What are ripples and gravity waves?

Gravitational waves are ‘ripples’ in space-time caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe. Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity.

What are gravitational waves in simple language?

Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime which are created whenever objects with mass move. They were predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 on the basis of his theory of general relativity. Sources of detectable gravitational waves include binary star systems composed of white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes.

What cosmological events have the waves been used to detect?

The gravitational waves that LIGO detects are caused by some of the most energetic events in the Universe—colliding black holes, merging neutron stars, exploding stars, and possibly even the birth of the Universe itself.

What can gravitational waves tell us?

Gravitational waves could soon provide measure of universe’s expansion. LIGO Detects Fierce Collision of Neutron Stars for the First Time—The New York Times. LIGO announces detection of gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars. Gravitational waves detected 100 years after Einstein’s prediction.

What are gravity waves answer?

The Short Answer: A gravitational wave is an invisible (yet incredibly fast) ripple in space. Gravitational waves travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). These waves squeeze and stretch anything in their path as they pass by. A gravitational wave is an invisible (yet incredibly fast) ripple in space.

What is the difference between a ripple and a wave?

Ripples are the instant effect of wind on water and they die down as quickly as they form, as the surface tension of the water dampens their efforts. Waves always travel in the same direction as the wind is blowing: if the wind changes then the waves change with it.

What did LIGO discovery?

LIGO made history two and a half years ago, when the observatory detected its first pair of neutron stars — city-size objects left behind when a giant star dies — spiraling around one another and then merging. The LIGO team determined that the total mass of the neutron star pair was 3.4 times that of Earth’s sun.

What are gravitational waves Class 10?

Answer: Gravitational waves are ‘ripples’ in space-time caused by some of the Universe’s most destructive and intense processes. When an item accelerates, it makes ripples in space-time, similar to how a boat makes ripples in water. Gravitational waves are the ripples in space-time.