Gravitational Waves: Slowed by Media?

[Khashishi]

Are gravitational waves slowed by media? Electromagnetic waves are slowed when traveling through dielectric media because the electric field polarizes the media. If a gravitational wave travels through matter, then the matter shifts around, much like the dielectric, right?

 

[dauto]

Technically yes, but that effect will be negligible due to the extremely weak gravitational interaction

 

[Drakkith]

Sorry to nitpick, but we are talking about Gravitational waves. Gravity waves are like water waves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_wave

 

[Khashishi]

oops. I do mean gravitational.

 

[pmacias]

This is an interesting question and one that is currently being studied by scientists. Gravitational waves are not affected by media in the same way that electromagnetic waves are. While electromagnetic waves can be slowed down by interacting with the electric field of a dielectric, gravitational waves are not affected by the mass or density of the material they pass through.

However, it is possible that gravitational waves can be influenced by the curvature of space-time caused by the presence of matter. This means that as a gravitational wave passes through matter, it may experience a slight change in its trajectory, but it is not slowed down in the same way that electromagnetic waves are.

Additionally, the effect of matter on gravitational waves is very small and can only be observed in extreme cases, such as when the waves pass through a dense object like a black hole. In most cases, the influence of matter on gravitational waves is negligible.

In conclusion, gravitational waves are not slowed down by media in the same way that electromagnetic waves are. While matter can affect the trajectory of gravitational waves, it does not significantly slow them down. This is why scientists are able to detect and study gravitational waves from distant sources without any significant interference from the matter they pass through.