Classroom Simulation of Gravitational Waves from Orbiting Binaries

Abstract

Popular demonstrations commonly use stretched spandex fabric to illustrate the way in which curved spacetime mimics the force of gravity in general relativity. There are significant potential conceptual pitfalls to such an approach. In particular, it obscures the fact that most of what we ordinarily feel as gravity is due to the warping of time rather than space, a concept that is admittedly harder to demonstrate. Nevertheless, with appropriate caveats simulations of this kind can convey some of the wonder of Einstein’s theory to non-specialists.

Relatively complicated? Using models to teach general relativity at different levels

“…32 A different application for an elastic sheet model is to demonstrate not the quadrupole distortion, but the outwards travel of the distortion phases (most notably, the distortion maxima) for a binary system as one of the simplest gravitational wave sources, creating a characteristic expanding spiral pattern. However, given the typical speeds of propagation of disturbances on an elastic sheet, the rotation frequency of the binary system will need to be rather high, and the spiral wave pattern will not be visible with the naked eye, only via a high-speed or stroboscopic recording (Overduin et al 2018).…”

Free fall in curved spacetime—how to visualise gravity in general relativity

“…The first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015 [1] has led to a new interest in topics of gravity and gravitational astronomy. This interest leads to new opportuni ties for teachers and educators to engage students and the general public [2][3][4]. Indeed, topics of GR and astronomy seem to motivate high school stu dents to a great extent [5][6][7].…”