
Scientists closing in on gravity waves
Date: Monday, November 07, 2005 @ 22:01:35 UTC Topic: Science
The UK Telegraph is reporting that we may finally have equipment that are sensitive enough to measure gravity waves,
which are incredibly small and have evaded detection despite the
theories that they are present as a way of explaining gravitational
effects. Basically, a laser beam is split into two branches that are
sent down two identical 2000 feet long tubes and back again via
mirrors. Assuming the two arms remain exactly the same distance, they
will cancel each other out. But the scientists think that the beams
will interfere with each other owing to the effect of gravity, meaning
the length of the branches is altered and a gravitational wave has been
detected.
|
|