Gravitational waves should permanently distort space-time
Layman&#x27;s question: are gravitational waves really &quot;waves&quot;?<p>When I think of waves, I think of systems governed by the wave equation [0].<p>But IIUC that requires a restoring force. I&#x27;m not sure what that would mean in the case of gravity.<p>E.g., if the moon suddenly lurched towards the Earth, we&#x27;d perceive an increase in gravity between the two.  But that would be a semi-permanent change in the strength of that attraction between the two objects; not what I&#x27;d think of as a wave-like fluctuation.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Wave_equation" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Wave_equation</a>