How quickly does a change in gravity affect its surrounding?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fowler
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Change Gravity
AI Thread Summary
A change in gravity due to an object's energy transforming into mass affects surrounding objects at the speed of light. This means that any alteration in gravitational force is not instantaneous but propagates at the speed of light (c). Consequently, information cannot be transmitted faster than light through changes in gravity. The discussion emphasizes that while gravity can change, its influence is limited by the speed of light. Understanding this principle clarifies misconceptions about faster-than-light communication via gravitational changes.
Fowler
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
If the gravity of an object changes ( due to it's energy changing into mass ) how quickly does a second object get affected by this change in gravity? Is it instantaneous?
If so then could information be transported faster than the speed of light using changes in gravity?

Of course I can't see how this would be possible, but can somebody please explain where I've went wrong. Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The rate at which a gravitational force "travels" is the speed of light.
 
  • Like
Likes Fowler
Yup. Gravitational change propagates at c.
 
  • Like
Likes Fowler
comparing a flat solar panel of area 2π r² and a hemisphere of the same area, the hemispherical solar panel would only occupy the area π r² of while the flat panel would occupy an entire 2π r² of land. wouldn't the hemispherical version have the same area of panel exposed to the sun, occupy less land space and can therefore increase the number of panels one land can have fitted? this would increase the power output proportionally as well. when I searched it up I wasn't satisfied with...
Back
Top