How quickly does a change in gravity affect its surrounding?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Fowler
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Change Gravity
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the propagation speed of gravitational changes, specifically whether a change in gravity affects surrounding objects instantaneously. Participants confirm that gravitational changes propagate at the speed of light (c), meaning that any alteration in gravitational force does not occur instantaneously. This establishes that information cannot be transported faster than the speed of light through changes in gravity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity and gravitational theory
  • Familiarity with the concept of the speed of light (c)
  • Basic knowledge of mass-energy equivalence
  • Awareness of gravitational waves and their propagation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of gravitational waves as described in Einstein's general relativity
  • Study the relationship between mass-energy equivalence and gravitational changes
  • Explore experimental evidence supporting the speed of gravitational wave propagation
  • Investigate the limitations of information transfer in the context of relativity
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, astrophysicists, and students of theoretical physics interested in gravitational theory and the fundamental limits of information transfer in the universe.

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   Reactions: Fowler
Yup. Gravitational change propagates at c.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Fowler

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 58 ·
2
Replies
58
Views
4K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
5K
  • · Replies 95 ·
4
Replies
95
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
3K