I would like to understand why a gravitational wave distorts length in relation to normal gravity wells; specifically is this particular to waves?  Why don&#x27;t lengths get distorted in a normal gravity well, or do they?   In essence, what is different between a gravity wave and a gravity well, which i understand <i>both</i> distort space, but only the wave distorts it in a way we can measure?  Does the gravity well change lengths proportionally in all directions and thus isnt measurable?