The video explains, how the scientists performed the landmark experiment to measure the Speed of Gravity. To calculate the Speed of Gravity (Speed of Gravitational Waves) scientists Edward Fomalont and Sergei Kopeikin used the planet Jupiter and Einstein’s Equations of the General theory of Relativity and showed that the gravity travels at the speed of light.
Scientists have calculated the speed of gravity for the first time. The groundbreaking experiment shows that the gravity travels at the speed of light as predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
It means gravity takes time to travel and show its effect on an object. The influence of gravity is not instantaneous as thought by Isaac Newton.
But what we mean by the speed of gravity? Let's understand it.
We know that light from the Sun takes nearly 8.3 minutes to reach to the earth. And now after this experiment, we know the speed of gravity is equal to the speed of light.
So if the Sun suddenly disappeared from its place, the Earth would remain in its orbit for about 8.3 minutes and then suddenly it will be free from the Sun's gravity.
The measurement of gravity was made by Edward Fomalont of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Sergei Kopeikin of the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Kopeikin rearranged the equations of general relativity and expressed the moving body's gravitational field in terms of its velocity, mass and the speed of gravity.
Fomalont and Kopeikin chose the largest planet of our solar system -the Jupiter, for this experiment.
Now they had the task to measure the gravitational field of Jupiter as they already knew its mass and velocity. Because after knowing these 3 parameters, it was easily possible to calculate the 4th unknown parameter- the speed of gravity, with the help of rearranged equations.
So let's understand how they managed to calculate the gravitational field of Jupiter.
Guys, before explaining this, let me tell you that gravity can distort the space-time fabric itself. So when an Electromagnetic wave like radio wave or light wave passes near the massive object having immense gravity, that object bends the path of the wave as the space itself gets distorted.
In September 2002, the planet Jupiter passed in front of a Quasar that emits radio waves. It was a great opportunity for Fomalont and Kopeikin to measure the gravitational field of Jupiter.
With the help of radio telescopes, they measured the apparent change in the quasar's position. Because the gravity of massive planet Jupiter caused the bending of the passing radio waves as it bent the fabric of space-time.
Then with the help of general relativity equations, they calculated the speed of gravity and found it to be equal to the speed of light.

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