Ripples in space-time created by the stretching and squeezing effects of massive objects, notably supernovae, binary black holes, and binary neutron stars. Gravity waves are transverse waves, meaning that they stretch and squeeze space-time in directions perpendicular to the wave's motion. Einstein's Theory of General Relativity predicts the existence of gravity waves, but they have not yet been detected. See also
The gravitational analog of an electromagnetic wave whereby gravitational radiation is emitted at the speed of light from any mass that undergoes rapid acceleration.
A wave for which the restoring force is gravity. See forced wave.
A perturbation along a vertical discontinuity, or gradient, which has gravity as its restoring force; for example ocean waves, storm surges. In the atmosphere, gravity waves are generated whenever an imbalance between the mass and wind fields develops.
(physics) a wave that is hypothesized to propagate gravity and to travel at the speed of light
an oscillation caused by the displacement of an air parcel which is restored to its initial position by gravity
a wave in the gravitational field
In fluid mechanics (and thus helioseismology) this refers to a wave for which buoyancy is the restoring force. more
A wave in which the velocity of propagation is a function of gravity. Water waves over a few inches in length are considered gravity waves.
The wave action, caused by the swimmers' bodies moving through the water, which moves down and forward from the swimmer, bounces off the bottom of the pool, then returns to the surface as turbulence.
A wave disturbance in which buoyancy acts as the restoring force on parcels displaced from hydrostatic equilibrium. Waves on the ocean are examples of gravity waves.
WAVE whose velocity of propagation is controlled primarily by gravity. Water WAVES more than 5 cm long are considered gravity waves. WAVES longer than 2.5 cm and shorter than 5 cm are in an indeterminate zone between CAPILLARY and GRAVITY WAVES. See RIPPLE. See Figure 10.
A form of atmospheric wave motion in which the principal restoring force is that of gravity.
A wave created by the action of gravity on density variations in the stratified atmosphere. A generic classification for lee waves, mountains waves, and many other waves that form in the atmosphere.
Wave action caused by the swimmers' bodies moving through the water. Gravity waves move down and forward from the swimmer, bounce off the bottom of the pool, and return to the surface in the form of turbulence.
a wave disturbance in which buoyancy (or reduced gravity) acts as a restoring force on parcels displaced from hydrostatic equilibrium; there is a direct oscillatory conversion between potential and kinetic energy in the wave motion. Russian translation prepared by Nina A. Zaitseva for the Arctic Climatology Project Arctic Meteorology and Climate Atlas.