Well, the relativistic theory of light (all radiation, for that matter) requires waves for the universe to be predicted properly - i.e. for the equations to work. The Quantum theory requires particles. Light has been shown to exhibit both wave and particle properties, thus the so-called light particle-wave duality. There are dozens of examples in textbooks and probably on the 'net but unfortunately I don't have to time to look them up :(
Gravitons (if they exist) only exist when there is some sort of gravitational interaction. Thus, if you are on a lift going upward at 10 m/s, you are trading gravitons with the Earth, with the lift, with your shoe, with the person next door, with the sun, with the Andromeda galaxy, with everything that has a gravitational effect on you. Remember, from physics, the gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance, so it never is really zero, it just gets really, realllllly small.
In a way, gravitons work like light in that they are the intermediary particles for the Gravitational Force (see some previous posts I made).

• gravity - mrokl - November 19, 2000 - 01:48 UTC
  • Re: gravity - bladesinger - November 19, 2000 - 17:49 UTC
    • Re: Re: gravity - mrokl - November 19, 2000 - 20:33 UTC
      • Re: Re: Re: gravity - bladesinger - November 20, 2000 - 03:40 UTC