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From: sean@ukma.UUCP (Sean Casey)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Re: "big bang" a big bust?
Message-ID: <384@ukma.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Dec-84 18:15:24 EST
Article-I.D.: ukma.384
Posted: Thu Dec 13 18:15:24 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 00:16:34 EST
References: <85@decwrl.UUCP> <10800012@uiucdcsb.UUCP>, <162@talcott.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of KY Mathematical Sciences
Lines: 32

- Can gravity propagate faster than c?


The question I would ask is: Does gravity propagate?

I think it depends on what you consider gravity to be.  Is  it  a
wave phenomena? It is a warpage of space? I seriously doubt we'll
find the answers (facts, not theory)  until  we  can  measure  it
qualitatively.

I once read a SF story about some astronauts that found an  alien
transmitter  on Mars. It had a "microscopically small black hole"
that was induced to vibrate by magnetic waves. According  to  the
story, the gravitic disturbance created affected the entire space
fabric of the universe simultaneously.

One might ask whether the "fabric of space"  has  the  same  same
properties as a piece of cloth, that is, if you pull on one edge,
does the disturbance propagate or does it affect the entire sheet
at once?

One way that seems interesting would be to  annhilate  a  certain
weight  of  matter and measure the gravitic disturbance. The dis-
tance of space could be used to create  a  delay  that  would  be
measurable. Then you'd know the speed of gravity.

Does anyone know of any experiments,  domestic  or  cosmic,  that
have in some way determined "the speed of gravity"?

Sean Casey

- Curiosity is the beginning of Wisdom