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Gravity waves are generated at the interface between two media when the force of gravity tries to restore equilibrium. These waves are created when two powerful heavenly bodies like black holes, planets, or neurons start with accelerating velocities towards each other.
- Gravity waves are also known as gravitational waves.
- They are ripples in space-time fabric generated by accelerated masses.
- These waves helped in the formation of the early universe, which was formed just after the Big Bang.
Scientifically explaining, whenever a body with a certain mass accelerates, gravity propagating starts propagating through space-time fabric, and these waves originate from the source to infinite outer space, travelling with a velocity of light.
Key Terms: Gravity Waves, Gravitational Waves, Mass, Acceleration, Force, Equilibrium, Gravity, Big Bang, Planets, Neurons, Black Holes
What are Gravity Waves?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]Gravity waves are ripples in the space-time fabric that is generated by the presence of accelerating mass. They are caused by massive gravitational force.
- Einstein, in 1916, already predicted the gravity waves as a theory of relativity pointed towards the concept of gravitational waves.
- It would travel from the source like water in a pond would spiral out when a stone is thrown in it.
- A new branch of astronomy, gravitational-wave astronomy, has studied these waves in detail.
- Gravity waves are recorded here to collect observational data on star systems consisting of dwarf stars, neutron stars, black holes, etc.
- These waves can be used to understand Supernova, Cosmos, Big Bang, etc.
- Cataclysmic events tend to generate the strongest gravity waves.
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What causes Gravitational Waves?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]When Einstein studied the universe from his point of view, he formulated a revolutionary theory known as the theory of relativity. According to this theory, time and space are inseparable entities that are spread across the universe like fabrics. This is known as space-time fabric.
- Everything in this universe is found to be floating on its fabric.
- Gravitational force comes into existence due to movement or acceleration between moving masses.
- Gravity is the outcome of curvature in space-time fabric due to the presence of mass.
- The greater the mass and volume, the greater will be the curvature.
- The motion of objects causes a change in curvature, which reflects a change in their location.
- Accelerating masses cause a change in space-time curvature that propagates in a wave-like pattern with a velocity of light.
- This phenomenon is called gravitational waves.
When a gravity wave moves, the distance between the objects varies as the frequency is the same as that of the wave. The magnitude of this effect is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. The gravity waves can exist at any frequency rate. The range of frequency lies between 10-7Hz to 1011Hz.
Why are Gravitational Waves Important
[Click Here for Sample Questions]The importance of gravitational waves is as follows:
- Gravitational waves open the way to the cosmos
- They disprove Newton’s Theory of Gravitational events occurring all at once
- The theory was proved by Einstein’s theory of general relativity
- It contributes to the discovery of the Gravitational-wave spectrum
- These waves could lead to the discovery of potential new technologies in the future.
- Gravity waves can also lead scientists to get the physics of the Big Bang
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Things to Remember
- Gravity starts propagating through space-time fabric whenever a body with a certain mass accelerates.
- Gravitational waves originate from the source to infinite outer space, travelling with a velocity of light.
- Gravity waves are the outcome of curvature in space-time fabric due to the presence of mass.
- A laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory is used for the measurement of these waves.
- The weak nuclear force and the electromagnetic force are the two fundamental forces that are indistinguishable.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the gravitational wave equation? (2 marks)
Ans. Gravitational waves move with wavelength λ and a frequency f. Speed of gravitational moves with λ * f.
ds2 = gµνdxµdxν = (ηµν + hµν )dxµdxν
where,
ηµν= Minkowski metric for flat spacetime.
hµν= small perturbations (wave metric).
Ques. How do the LIGO measure the gravitational waves? (2 marks)
Ans. Gravitational waves contain L-shaped detectors that are located 4km apart. These detectors catch aberrations in spacetime by using lasers and mirrors. These lasers bouncing back and front help to measure the intensity of waves.
Ques. What is the history of Gravitational Waves? (4 marks)
Ans. Einstein himself was too satisfied with his theory of gravitational waves and was finding contradictions and flaws in his own theory for many years. The proof of the existence of gravitational waves was found in 1974 when two astronomers discovered a binary pulsar that looked like a blinking star.
- These astronomers came to know that this could be Einstein’s unproven theory.
- After some research, they came to know that two neutron stars were approaching each other at the same speed as stated in Einstein’s relativity theory.
- Later on, many astronomers studied pulsar radio emissions and came to a similar conclusion.
- On September 14th, 2015 LIGO (Laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory) proved that this effect was due to the collision of two black holes that collided many light years ago and reached earth in 2015.
Ques. What will be the mass of an object under free fall, if on earth’s surface, it weighs 200 N? (2 marks)
Ans. At free fall weight becomes zero but mass remains unchanged.
Therefore, mg = 200 N
m = 200/g = 20 kg
Ques. What are the factors are used to determine whether a planet has an atmosphere? (2 marks)
Ans. The two factors are as follows:
- Acceleration formed due to gravity at the surface of the planet.
- Required emperature of the planet.
Ques. How to measure Gravity waves? (2 marks)
Ans. A gravitational wave detector is used to detect the gravity waves. As the gravitational wave travels through space, they stretch the space. LIGO is used to detect this movement by gravitational waves. LIGO observatory measures gravitational waves with lasers and mirrors. Also, the European gravitational observatory’s detector can measure the gravitational waves.
Ques. What are the characteristics of gravity waves? (3 marks)
Ans. The characteristics of gravity waves are as follows:
- Gravitational waves are invisible which are traveling at the speed of light
- These waves scratch and squeeze everything on their way while traveling.
- They originate very far from the earth and cannot approach if weaker so Gravitational waves are difficult to detect.
- They are much smaller when they reach the earth’s surface.
- These waves that reach earth may have been originated from an event that occurred billions of light-years ago.
Ques. Calculate the gravitational force if the two masses are 10kg and 20kg separated by a distance of 4 m? (3 marks)
Ans. Given that,
- m1 = 10 kg
- m2 = 20 kg
- r = 4m
- G = 6.67259 x 10–11 N m2/kg2
Using the Gravitational Force Formula,
F = [Gm1m2]/r2
Fg = [6.673 ×10–11 × 10 × 20] / 16
F = 83.41 x 10–11N
Ques. Assume that two objects attract each other with a gravitational force of 18 units. If the distance between the two objects is tripled what is the new attraction force that resulted between the two objects? (2 marks)
Ans. The new attraction force that resulted between the two objects will be 4 units. Since the distance between two objects is increased 2 times, then force should be decreased by a factor of (32) = 9
Thus, the new force (F) = (18 units) / 9 = 2 units
Ques. Calculate the gravitational force if the two masses are 10kg and 30kg separated by a distance of 2 m? (3 marks)
Ans. Given that,
- m1 = 10 kg
- m2 = 30 kg
- r = 2 m
- G = 6.67259 x 10–11 N m2/kg2
Using the Gravitational Force Formula,
F = [Gm1m2]/r2
Fg = [6.673 ×10–11 × 10 × 30] / 4
F = 500.47 x 10–11N
Ques. What will be the mass of an object under free fall, if on earth’s surface, it weighs 300 N? (2 marks)
Ans. At free fall weight becomes zero but mass remains unchanged.
Therefore, mg = 200 N
m = 300/g = 30 kg
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How were gravity waves produced during the Big Bang?
The cosmic threads could produce gravitational waves when they vibrate. Gravitational waves could also provide light on how the entire universe arose since they may have been created during the enormous growth spurt known as inflation in the initial seconds following the big bang. A trigger mechanism needs to move air vertically in order to initiate a gravity wave. In stable air, the air must be forced to rise in order to produce a gravity wave.
Like electromagnetic waves, gravitational waves are transverse in nature. They are oscillating perpendicularly in the direction of their propagation.
The fundamental force of nature known as gravity attracts objects with mass to one another. In contrast, gravitational waves are spacetime ripples that move through space and carry energy with them. Gravity is communicated as a curvature in spacetime, not as a force, according to general relativity.
LIGO is a gravitational wave observatory used to detect gravitational waves. It consists of two instruments called interferometers, each with two 4 km long arms arranged in an "L" shape. The interferometers act as 'antennae', which in turn help detect gravitational waves.
The difference between gravitational waves and electromagnetic waves are as follows:
Gravitational waves travel at the speed of light, which is almost 186,000 miles per second. They tend to squeeze and stretch along their pathway. A gravitational wave is an imperceptible ripple in space that moves very quickly.
Gravitational waves would nearly totally pass through us from even the closest star's distance. The interactions are so weak that they hardly touch us, despite the fact that these spacetime ripples carry more energy than any other cataclysmic event.