Concept information
Preferred term
gravitational wave
Definition(s)
- Gravitational waves are waves of the intensity of gravity generated by the accelerated masses of an orbital binary system that propagate as waves outward from their source at the speed of light. They were first proposed by Oliver Heaviside in 1893 and then later by Henri Poincaré in 1905 as waves similar to electromagnetic waves but the gravitational equivalent. Gravitational waves were later predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his general theory of relativity as ripples in spacetime. Later he refused to accept gravitational waves. Gravitational waves transport energy as gravitational radiation, a form of radiant energy similar to electromagnetic radiation. Newton's law of universal gravitation, part of classical mechanics, does not provide for their existence, since that law is predicated on the assumption that physical interactions propagate instantaneously (at infinite speed) – showing one of the ways the methods of Newtonian physics are unable to explain phenomena associated with relativity. (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_wave)
Broader concept(s)
Synonym(s)
- gravitational radiation
In other languages
-
French
-
rayonnement gravitationnel
URI
http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-DVKHPZPJ-9
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