An Oddity in the Notion of Gravity?

[Sharkey]

If gravity had a finite speed, the propagation lag would cause the centripetal vector of an orbiting body to diverge from the real time direction to the center of mass of the system.

This discrepancy would increase with distance, significantly effecting very large orbits.

[Metric]

There may be some confusion on what is meant by gravity having a finite speed. A full GR solution is valid everywhere, simultaneously, provided the assumptions that went into the solution are correct. However, the effects of a localized "disturbance" in the gravitational field (defined on top of a "background" solution) propagate outward at a finite speed.

[Sharkey]

The meaning of a finite speed of gravity is implicit in the post: the source of the discrepancy between the apparent origin of a gravitational “force” and its actual location.

[Metric]

If you say so...

[ZeeJustin]

My cat's breath smells like cat food.

[amirite]

I bent my wookie.

[tolbiny]

My cat's name is mittens

[Sharkey]

The responses have been quite interesting so far.

Anyone out there with both hands free?

[Meromorphic]

It tastes like burning.

[Brom]

And then the doctor said I wouldn't have so many nosebleeds if I could just keep my fingers out of there.

[Sharkey]

[ QUOTE ]
And then the doctor said I wouldn't have so many nosebleeds if I could just keep my fingers out of there.

[/ QUOTE ]

And your other doctor had something to say about the cucumbers.

[Bremen]

[ QUOTE ]
The responses have been quite interesting so far.

Anyone out there with both hands free?

[/ QUOTE ]
Awhile ago there was a paper published claiming to measure the speed at which gravitational changes propogate. They concluded this occured at the speed of light, although some people argued they had instead measured the speed of light...

[Sharkey]

Yes, I remember that. It’s the only one of its kind as well as being in dispute.

Aside from that, it seems more interesting to examine these things based on their theoretical soundness.