[Pvfcadbh]

well changes in gravitational potential propagate at the speed of light Changes ?... that implies that the field continues to exist.... if the field collapses then what ?

[SeelaypeKet]

Changes ?... that implies that the field continues to exist.... if the field collapses then what ?

The same thing that happens to a light field when you switch off a light bulb.

[Pvfcadbh]

Good analogy

[blackjackiisre]

its a bit of a mind bender Remember that in GR, gravity is strictly a local effect. It is not caused by the presence of mass out here, it is caused by the curvature of space time right here.

If you change the masses out there it will eventually lead to a change in space time here, but those changes propagate at a finite speed (sfar as we can tell).