I am a high school student studying about gravitational waves. I hope they are similar to other waves like sound waves, etc. So I what to know exactly what oscillates in a gravitational wave. Like in sound waves, density of a medium oscillates over its maximum and minimum value. I wonder what could be oscillating?
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In general, a wave is a disturbance traveling in some medium. For example, a sound wave is a disturbance travelling through air. A wave at the beach is a disturbance travelling through the water. A light wave (which does not need a medium) is a disturbance in the electromagnetic field, traveling as an oscillating electromagnetic wave.
Gravitational waves are disturbances or ripples in spacetime.
I wonder what could be oscillating?
Following the same logic, it is spacetime itself that is oscillating.
I hope they are similar to other waves like sound waves, etc. So I what to know exactly what oscillates in a gravitational wave.
Gravitational waves are different in their structure. They are emitted from a system when the system has a time varying (mass) quadrupole moment.
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$\begingroup$ What does it mean for a spacetime to oscillate? Please clarify. $\endgroup$– RusicsCommented Jun 12, 2021 at 3:22