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Chace asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 1 decade ago

A question i have about light?

So today i learned in my astronomy class that light can be affected by gravity. The thought came to my mind, could it also then be affected by centripitol force? Not even my astronomy teacher knew this and im anxious to get an answer.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Of course!

    If somehow you were able to manipulate light, for example by using gravity, it will by definition be subject also to a centripetal force.

    For light to be affected at all by gravity suggests there must be an element of mass associated with it for gravity only influences matter. Therefore that very tiny amout of equivalent mass associate with that beam of light will also be subject to centripetal force.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Light is not affected by a centripal force.... As light travels in straight lines and so would not be affected by any kind of tether.... The way in which light is affected by gravity is that it's velocity is affected from the gravitational acceleration and it will bend slightly closer towards the gravitational body which is attracting it...

  • 1 decade ago

    not too sure about that..

    but remember light moves generally in straight lines, and it would not be circular in motion.

    it may refract, but it will not move in a circular direction.

    considering that, i don't think it would be affected by centripetal force.

    Source(s): planning on majoring in physics
  • 1 decade ago

    Not gravity but mass.And you're right if speed very big.

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