Can light waves be affected by gravity?

In our everyday experience, light seems to travel in straight lines, unaffected by gravity. But that bending is not gravitational; it’s electromagnetic. However, light does bend when travelling around massive bodies like neutron stars and black holes. This is explained by Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Does gravity affect electromagnetism?

Gravity does not respond to electromagnetic forces, only to the presence of energy and momentum. Remember that Einstein predicted that Light will bend around matter. Light is Electromagnetic Waves.

Why light gets affected by gravity?

Yes, light is affected by gravity, but not in its speed. Gravity bends light by warping space so that what the light beam sees as “straight” is not straight to an outside observer. The speed of light is still constant.

Does light exert a gravitational force?

Light has energy, energy is equivalent to mass, and mass exerts gravitational force. Thus, light creates gravity, i.e. the bending of space-time. Thus, in order for light to generate a gravitational field like that of the Earth, it would need to have the mass (energy) of the Earth.

Does gravity affect electric field?

No, they do not exist. Electric field lines are only imaginary.

Can gravity affect a magnetic field?

The magnetic field, or more generally the electromagnetic field, is affected by gravity. It follows the curvature of spacetime (gravity) just like everything else.

Does light have a gravitational pull?

No. Light has no physical mass. Therefore it is unable to produce its own gravity. However, light is altered by the density of the gravity around it.

How do Gravitational waves affect the path of light?

Gravitational waves do affect the path followed by light. In fact, that’s how LIGO works. Gravitational waves cause space to stretch and shrink only in the directions transverse (perpendicular) to their motion. Lets say that LIGO’s two arms are aligned to the and directions.

Do Gravitational waves cause spacetime to stretch?

We all know about the gravitational lensing effect. From the analogy of fabric of space time used to explain this concept to laymen like me, I understand that light follows the curvature of spacetime. Following on that same line of thought process, gravitational waves would cause the spacetime stretch and squeeze.

How does a gravitational wave distort space?

A gravitational wave traveling in the z direction will cause space to distort in the x and y directions only. As the wave passes the detector, the “peak” of the wave will maximally stretch one direction ( x) while shrinking the other ( y ).