Newtonian Gravitational Waves from a Continuum

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Author: Vadasz, Peter
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 25.04.2024
• Subjects: Compressible fluids; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetism; Equivalence; Gravitation; Gravitational fields; Gravitational waves; Light speed; Mass distribution; Maxwell's equations; Physics - General Physics; Wave propagation
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.10324

Gravitational waves are being shown to derive directly from Newtonian dynamics for a continuous mass distribution, e g compressible fluids or equivalent. It is shown that the equations governing a continuous mass distribution, i e the inviscid Navier Stokes equations for a general variable gravitational field g(t,x), are equivalent to a form identical to Maxwell equations from electromagnetism, subject to a specified condition. The consequence of this equivalence is the creation of gravity waves that propagate at finite speed. The latter implies that Newtonian gravitation as presented in this paper is not spooky action at a distance but rather is similar to electromagnetic waves propagating at finite speed, despite the apparent form appearing in the integrated field formula. In addition, this proves that in analogy to Maxwell equations the Newtonian gravitation equations are Lorentz invariant for waves propagating at the speed of light.