Thread: Gravitational wave

I heard that it is a wave produced by a system of two different masses rotating arround a same center of mass.
is it true?
Or what is the way to detect that wave?

Originally Posted by basim

I heard that it is a wave produced by a system of two different masses rotating arround a same center of mass.
is it true?
Or what is the way to detect that wave?

A gravitational wave is the result of a change of mass sitting on spacetime. If two different masses are orbiting the same center mass, there shoulden't be any waves unless, say, the center mass dissapeared.

You would be able to detect it by observation if the magnitude was strong enough, the objects the wave is acting upon will move iregularly.

It is if the two objects are black holes.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/lisa_fact2.shtml

ok thanks guys
through which medium does it travel & with what speed.

Originally Posted by basim

ok thanks guys
through which medium does it travel & with what speed.

It requires no medium, the speed of light.

i think huge waves must have been produced by big bang.
still we dont have any effect of that, i mean things doesnt move irregularly.