If two black holes were to collide, it is theorized that the violence of the collision would send ripples through space time, called gravitational waves. I'm wondering what would happen if a ripple of this sort was to wash over Earth? Obviously it would bend time in some way, and effect gravity as well. How would we perceived these effects and how would they differ throughout the world as the wave passed through us?
I know that this is entirely theoretical, but does anyone have an answer that can be justified in any way, or at least that makes a little sense?
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[–] grendelbiter 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I'm no expert just a stoned dude but I think if these gravitational waves really exist then we must have experienced them at some point, we're probably experiencing them right now since the universe is infinte that means there are black holes colliding all the time and sending out waves. Soo I would say that experiencing these waves feel exactly how you feel right now.
[–] incoherence [S] ago
That's a good point, we have to be experiencing some form of gravity, maybe even part of a large and gradual ripple. However, while there are blackholes colliding somewhere, none are close enough for us to observe so their direct effect on us is minimal. I do wonder, however, what it would be like if a wave was emitted from right next to us.