Before getting into the topic, let us re some things about a wave:
- A wave is a disturbance created in a medium.
- It can be like a ripples as in a water pond, or like other forms like Compressions and rarefactions like in a sound.
- A wave can also be produced as a product of a collisions, or a carrier of energy: as in heat waves.
keeping in mind the above things, we revert back to our topic. basically, waves are generated when a body is moving in a medium, it can be referred as an outcome of the things that happen between the surface of the body and the particles of the medium.
Hence, Gravitational waves are formed by the motion of the stellar bodies like stars, black holes and others. They can also be the outcome of the interaction between two stellar bodies!!!
These are similar to the ripples in a water body, and can be powerful and reproducing, depending on the massive bodies and the strength of collision.
Albert Einstein in 1916, theoretically proved the existence of Gravitational waves in his Theory of Relativity. He said that these transport energy in the form of gravitational radiation. However, there is no practical proof for its existence. Though there is no physical proof, there are still probes on this phenomenon. The latest research on the existence of Gravitational Waves was put forth by NASA, was the use of Atom Optics:
The latest technique, Atomic Interferometry is trying to re-write
the canon. In conjunction with researchers at Stanford University,
scientists at NASA Goddard are developing a system to measure the faint
gravitational vibrations generated by movement of massive objects in the
universe.
The succes of this research can result in the exploration of the space-time, the origin of universe and lots more.
Link: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?11093
If you don't abuse me of raising such questions, to make our studies some what interesting, we need such small questions.
let me explain a small one...
There are two mind blowing theories that revolve round our planet other than the moon and the satellites: they are the Garvitational Theory and the Magnetic Theory. Though the ways are different the destination is same: in the same creativity i'll say that though these both are and teach different, they both aim at our very sweet home planet: the Earth.
Gravitational Theory states that earth has a special tendency or what I exclaim a love towards its inhabitant and visiting bodies that it attracts them towards its center. That's what we all have understood that its a new Foece called Gravitational Force and we have gained a brilliance that when we throw an object high it never touches the sky: falls back.
Another One is the Magnetic Theory that exclaims the Earth as a huge magnet: strong enough to pull everything that is a metal body towards itself. It has its two magnetic poles and we understood briliantly is we all are standing on a giant magnet and we ourselfs play with magnets :)
But my question is if an iron ball is thrown up what makes it come down? the Earths Gravity or the Earths Magnetism???
While thinking about this question, I'm left with nothing but Head ache ;) but the thought gave me plenty of interest.
Have you ever observed that rainbow occurs only after rain, by thinking so you may feel obviously that rainbow is related to a chemistry between sun and rain, its a correct guess.
yes rainbow occurs only after the sun rays pierce through the rain water droplets and form a pattern of 7 colors we generally exclaim as Rainbow Colors, or physics teacher teaches them as VIBGYOR. But even after learning this all in my lower classes, I used to feel something strange: If Rainbow is all a reflection of light through a water droplet. then why can't I create my own? well if I throw a beam of light on a stream of water vertically flowing down from a tap or some other source, cant I get my own Rainbow??? No we can't. but why?
Well Science clarifies that reflection or Refraction: whatever the thing takes place there actually, depends on the angle at which the light is approaching or commonly striking the target water drop. Its at an angle of 42 degrees that when a beam of light hits a water droplet, the droplet acts as a minute prism that tears the ray into seven different colors that form a band of thread like pattern: we enjoy exclaiming "We have seen a Rainbow!".
Hence, if want to have a small portable rainbow of your own: simply use a protractor and hit the water with accurate angle :) :)
