Electromagnetic Radiation,
I know. However have no clue what
gravity wave spectrum of accelerating masses might be

Do you have any ideas?
(I didn't even know such a thing existed!)
Pin~Jinx / anarchist says NO WAR!

P~J>>>>

Gravity waves are predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity, but none have yet been found. However, help is on the way, as the LIGO gravity wave detector may become operational this year.
Gravity is the curvature of space-time in the presence of mass. The greater the acceleration of the mass, the greater the energy of the gravitational field, which implies higher frequencies (shorter waves) of the gravity waves which move at the speed of light (the postulated graviton quanta of the gravitational radiation is analogous to the photon quanta of the electromagnetic radiation, and both must have no mass).
Gravity waves are most lkely to be detected where accelerations and masses are the greatest, at binary stars and colliding black holes (high accelerations are due to both increasing forward speeds and centripetal forces from high speed spirally rotating bodies). These waves send alternating compressing and stretching ripples of multi-dimensional space time that we hope to detect, opening up yet another door to the secrets of the Universe.

thnx
for the prompt reply Gerry . The bit abt the LIGO was pretty new & interesting for me.

Uhhmnmmmmm,
if these waves contract then expand then contract,
can we say that they are longitudnal???
Pin~Jinx / anarchist

PJ..
You always have your thinking hat on.
In the sense that one considers electromagnetic waves as longitudinal waves, i.e., waves parallel to the energy source direction, the i suppose one might think of gravity waves as longitudinal also. But I wouldn't put any money on it, after all, the darn things have not yet been detected. They may be like surface or standing waves, or they may even be driven from energy in dimensions higher than the 4th, in which case we might need a new term besides longitudinal or transverse, etc., to describe them.
Peace.

gerry - EM radiation consists of transverse, not longitudinal, waves (probably just a typo since you obviously know the definition).

"PJ..
You always have your thinking hat on."

Gee, Gerry, was that a compliment???

Anyhow,
thnx once again for the many many pointers of enlightment you have provided

M5k, I think Gerry needn't be reminded that electromagnetic waves are transverse (meaning that they travel in straight rays)
but if the theory of energy-packets holds true, perhaps then even these waves may eventually come into the category of Longitudnal...?!

Mere speculations, these,
Pin~Jinx / anarchist

P~J -

"I think Gerry needn't be reminded that electromagnetic waves are transverse"
I also think he knows this, but he misstated it in his post. I pointed it out not so much for his benefit as for anyone who might happen upon this thread and not know that light travels in transverse waves.

"transverse (meaning that they travel in straight rays)"
this isn't what transverse means. waves are moving oscillations. longitudinal waves (like sound waves) oscillate in the same direction that they move. transverse waves (like light) oscillate at right angles to the direction that they move.

"perhaps then even these waves may eventually come into the category of Longitudnal"
the "theory of energy packets" a.k.a. quantum mechanics is almost certainly true (or a simplification of what is true). even in light of quantum mechanics, light is still considered a transverse wave when it is treated as a wave.

thnx again M5k

Pin~Jinx / anarchist feeling deplorable due to the war prospects

Methos...thanks, yes, transverse is the light wave, very well explained in your posts.

Pin~Jinx (anarchist)....Yes, that was very much a compliment...I enjoy and learn from your contributions to these forums...thank you.