: If you can think of gravity not in terms of particles, but instead as a tidal force resulting from a curvature of space-time inherent to all mass, then you're well on the way to conceptualizing how the gravitational effect of a black hole is propagated. First realize that a stable mass at a constant distance and direction produces no wave proponent to its gravitational field. In other words, the tidal force for your reference frame is always the same, unless you move relative to the mass. The gravitational waves that you are referring to are the result of one object orbiting another. From your reference frame the object first approaches you, then recedes. Since its' gravitational force on you increases as it gets closer (square of the distance equation) then decreases as it moves away, you will percieve periodic fluctuations from the objects' gravitational force. These fluctuations take time to reach you, however, and the speed at which they travel is the speed of light, because if they affected you faster than that they would be breaking the laws of relativity. Light cannot escape a black hole's apparent horizion because the curvature of space-time is so steep inside the horizion, but it is important to remember that space-time curvature is just another way of describing gravity, and that outside the horizion the space-time curvature matches the curvature of an equivalent mass that has NOT imploded.

: : General relativity states that gravitational waves propogate at the speed of light.

: : How can the gravitational effect of a black hole escape if light can't?

: What a great question. I wish I had a great answer. I hope someone can answer Art's question. : John

• Re: Gravity can escape a black hole because!!!! - 8eth_Holling5ead/">8eth Holling5ead - February 23, 1999 - 11:37 UTC
• Re: Gravity can escape a black hole? - N/A/">N/A - August 5, 1999 - 01:41 UTC