What Determines the Speed of Gravitational Waves?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the propagation speed of gravitational waves, specifically addressing why they travel at the speed of light (c). Participants reference the linearized Einstein field equations, which reduce to wave equations indicating that gravitational waves propagate at light speed due to Lorentz invariance. The conversation also touches on the implications of curved spacetime and the local definition of velocity, emphasizing that while gravity can bend light, it does not alter the fundamental speed of gravitational waves. The consensus is that gravitational waves adhere to the same speed limit as electromagnetic waves, rooted in the principles of general relativity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's General Relativity (GR)
  • Familiarity with wave equations and Lorentz invariance
  • Knowledge of curved spacetime and its implications on velocity
  • Basic concepts of quantum mechanics and particle behavior
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the linearized Einstein field equations and their implications for gravitational waves
  • Explore the concept of Lorentz invariance in both special and general relativity
  • Investigate the effects of curved spacetime on wave propagation
  • Research Hawking radiation and its relationship with black holes and virtual particles
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, astrophysicists, and students of theoretical physics interested in gravitational wave propagation and the principles of general relativity.

  • #31
ApplePion said:
Local quantities are perfectly legitimate.

Sure. But you have to measure them locally. That is, you have to be at the location in question. If you measure them "remotely", from some other location, you have to take into account the spacetime curvature between the two locations.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
I am saying the following: Two observers A and B in curved spacetime at rest w.r.t each other but located at different spacetime points PA and PB will not agree on the velocity of a test body C w.r.t. to e.g. observer A:

vC(w.r.t. A, measured by A = observed from PA) != vC(w.r.t. A, measured by B = observed from PB)

That means the velocity is no longer globally valid. It does not only depend on the velocity of the two reference frames for A and B (wich is well-known from SR), but also on the location of these reference frames (= tangent-spaces) in spacetime.
 

Similar threads

High School Energy loss of a photon
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Undergrad Is coordinate speed affected by gravitational waves?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
Graduate Can gravitational energy be localized in the case of plane waves?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
High School Ride Gravitational Waves to Increase Speed?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Gravity Wave Speed: Deriving Constancy from Maxwell Eqs.
  • · Replies 34 ·
2
Replies
34
Views
3K
Undergrad Gravitational Waves Emitted by a Binary System
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
2K
Graduate Speed of Light for Bonnor Beam
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
Undergrad Gravitational Waves vs Universe Expansion Rate
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Do Gravitational Waves Always Travel at the Speed of Light?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Graduate 1-Way Speed of Light
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
2K