Thanks BenLurkin.
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Posted on 10/20/2013 7:35:47 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Okay, but what exactly is a gravitational wave and how could they help us crack the conundrum of the black hole code?
A gravitational wave is akin to a ripple in space-time. Albert Einstein predicted that massive bodies changing speed or direction generate these gravitational waves. Picture bodies like a pair of black holes orbiting each other. This then creates a gravitational wave that ripples outwards, like a disturbance in a still pool of water after a leaf has dropped onto its surface and ripples are sent across the surface. Like star-crossed lovers, the black holes of two merging galaxies are destined to meet. The merging of two black holes create gravitational waves that ripple throughout the universe, like the soft hum of a crowd. It is at the frequency of this soft hum which scientists are now able to detect. As black holes get closer to meeting and converging, they emit gravitational waves that give off a frequency that can be detected.
The Parkes Pulsar Timing array (PPTA), the telescope in east Austrailia mentioned earlier, is providing almost 20 years of what the scientists call “timing data.” Although this is not enough to perceive the gravitational waves entirely, the team admits to being one step closer. Results from the PPTA has revealed that the gravitational waves’ background rate is very low. This is significant because a low strength could mean that either of the following three factors are have and/or are at a limit: how often supermassive black holes merge, how large they are, and how distant they are.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardianlv.com ...
Ping
A whole new way we’re all gonna die? For real? Great find, we could use more of those!
Ok, so it is actually about understanding black holes - but considering what is postulated about black holes, it could still be considered a new way of understanding how we’re all gonna die, so, horay!
You didn’t understand the article, did you ;)...
btw, are you @freedom462 on twitter?
That is probably pure coincidence, and as for the article, I have been sleep deprived so i didn’t bother to try and fully understand it.
“You didn’t understand the article, did you ;)..”
I did not either. Near as I can figure, it’s something about the gravitational effect on a black hoe’s crack.
Short version: Falling rocks make noise.
That has to be some of the worst “science” writing I’ve ever seen. “No principle left unmangled” must be the author’s motto.
I tried to explain this so many times but still no one gets it. This is not a gravitational wave, IT IS A SOUNDWAVE from PERCUSSION...and if you could hear it up close and personal YOUR EARS WOULD EXPLODE FOLLOWED BY THE REST OF YOU. Sound moves the universe at every level and there is nowhere that doesn’t have zillions of things to slam into at speeds and force that are faster than the ears can hear and faster than than the eyes can see, faster than we have thus far found it possible to measure. It seems complicated but it isn’t. Just not up to the task right now.
Well, for the record, you told me about this one more than five years ago.
Maybe you can answer these:
1. Do Einstein’s equations allow a calculation of the magnitude of gravitational waves?
I suspect not but would like a confirmation if possible.
2. As far as I know, gravitational waves have never been detected and it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. As I recall Robert Forward built a huge aluminum cylinder in an early attempt at a Gravitational Wave detector. This was in the late 50’s. It was very sensitive since it was able to detect small motions in fraternities and sororities in the middle of the night. But alas, no gravity waves were detected.
Could it be that there really aren’t gravitational waves?
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