With extraordinary findings of gravity ripples in space, the scientists at LEGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) have successfully served mankind with the knowledge of a completely new dimension, which is- Gravity.
Thanks to Einstein who dared, 100 years ago, to go against the Newton’s theory of gravity- ‘Mass attracts Mass’, and gave his mind blasting ‘Theory of Relativity’ which made the physics world go topsy-turvy. It is only because of people like Einstein, and the scientists that are currently working in the LEGO, that today we are seeing Gravity as another dimension- just like Spatial Coordinates, and Time.
What are Gravity Ripples?
Newton suggested that this universe is an empty space where every celestial body is drifting away from each other on an undefined course, originating from the big bang. But Einstein couldn’t believe this theory. He kept insisting to other scientists that nothing in this world can happen without a reason. Though he couldn’t explain much about how the universe came into being, he gave us a completely new tool to study space- The Theory of Relativity.
The relativity theory can be understood like this-
Let us consider our solar system. Imagine the space of our solar system; where the sun and the planets lie; as a stretched rubber sheet (termed as space-time). Now keep the sun in the centre of the sheet. As you can imagine, because of the massive mass of the sun, the sheet distorts in the centre and bends inwards, thus distorting the space around itself. Now if another body travelling in a straight line comes in the vicinity of the sun, due to the distorted space, it starts to revolve around the sun. If the linear velocity of the body (let’s say Earth) is appropriate, it starts to revolve around the sun with a constant angular velocity.
The phenomenon of Gravity Ripples is completely analogous to the ripples of water created by ships moving at a high velocity. To understand the Gravity Ripples, again we assume a stretched rubber sheet as the space. Now on this sheet of space-time, if an extremely massive body, let say a black hole, is moving at a very high velocity, it creates ripples of space-time distortion on the rubber sheet. These ripples are termed aptly as Gravity Ripples.
How does LEGO work?
LEGO works on the principle of wave interference. A highly powerful laser beam is first passed into the 4 km long L shaped-tunnel, in equal proportions, using a partial reflector kept at the L corner. The then reflected beams from the two ends of the tunnel are made to meet at the corner, where their interference pattern is observed. Whenever there is a Gravity Ripple crossing the space time, the space distorts and changes the lengths of the tunnel, disturbing the interference pattern of the reflected waves. This disturbance is what tells the scientists that a Ripple just crossed the space time. The LEGO observatory being the most delicate instrument on the Earth is capable of detecting a distortion of the order of the diameter of a proton.
Where are we heading?
According to Hindu Mythology and Cosmology, Lord Krishna is said to be the Lord of 10 Dimensions – ‘Dasho Dishao ke Swami’. If one believes in it, then there are still 5 more dimensions to find out. But are our brains big enough to understand the next 5 dimensions? Will we be able to study the other dimensions in the limited time that we have (10,000 years before Kalayuga ends)? And if another brain like that of Einstein’s emerges and understands all the 10 dimensions, will he not be known as an Avatar of the Lord Krishna himself? So where are we heading? Becoming Gods? Can one imagine the world it would be if all mankind understands the 10 dimensions? Hindu cosmology believes the 4 Kaals to be a continuous cycle. Will it mark the beginning of Satyuga – The period of 6 Vishnu Avatars?
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