What is the relation between gravity and light?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion explores the relationship between gravity and light, particularly why both propagate at the same speed, which is the speed of light. It raises the question of whether this speed is a standard for all forms of communication in the universe, suggesting that the speed of light may not be as unique as it seems. The hypothetical graviton, a massless boson, is proposed as the particle responsible for gravity, which also travels at light speed. The conversation emphasizes that if the graviton is never confirmed, the reason for gravity's speed matching that of light remains an open question. Overall, the dialogue highlights the complexities of understanding gravity's propagation within the framework of general relativity.
phy_freak
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why did they have to be the same speed? do you think that this speed was somehow set as a standard speed for such things, i don't know maybe there are other things that are also in the speed of light.. so the speed of light isn't so rare..
 
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GR sets a universal speed limit on 'communication' between objects in the universe. That limit happens to be the speed of light.
 
phy_freak said:
why did they have to be the same speed? do you think that this speed was somehow set as a standard speed for such things, i don't know maybe there are other things that are also in the speed of light.. so the speed of light isn't so rare..

Hipothetical particle responsible for carrying gravity is massless boson called graviton. Massless particles propagate at speed of light.

If graviton is never confirmed to be real, then your question - why gravity propagates at speed of light - is very good question. Simply stating that GR forbids FTL communication, doesn't explain anything, because question is why speed of gravity propagation is exactly same as the speed of light propagation, not why gravity is not faster then light.
 
I think the "speed of gravity" can be worked out using GR...and it turns out to be c...but I've no idea how. :P
 
Matterwave said:
I think the "speed of gravity" can be worked out using GR...and it turns out to be c...but I've no idea how. :P
Related thread:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=369420

Edit: Also, on the grounds of dimensional analysis, we expect to get c. The only other really conceivable option would be for gravity to propagate instantaneously.
 
Last edited:
If graviton is never confirmed to be real, then your question - why gravity propagates at speed of light - is very good question.
A graviton simply inherits its properties from the classical wave it is meant to quantize. Whether or not there is a graviton is irrelevant, the speed is derived from linearized gravity, i.e. the wave solution in the weak field approximation.
 
Instantaneous speed of gravity has been thoroughly debunked AFAIK.
 
S.Vasojevic said:
Hipothetical particle responsible for carrying gravity is massless boson called graviton. Massless particles propagate at speed of light.

If graviton is never confirmed to be real, then your question - why gravity propagates at speed of light - is very good question. Simply stating that GR forbids FTL communication, doesn't explain anything, because question is why speed of gravity propagation is exactly same as the speed of light propagation, not why gravity is not faster then light.


could you please explain what you meant by "GR" and "FTL" ? :confused:
 
phy_freak said:
could you please explain what you meant by "GR" and "FTL" ? :confused:
GR = general relativity, Einstein's law of gravity
FTL = faster than light
 

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