When light passes through a gravitational field, its path is bent due to the curvature of spacetime caused by the gravitational mass. This phenomenon is known as gravitational lensing. According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, mass and energy curve the fabric of spacetime, and light follows the curvature of this distorted spacetime.
The bending of light in a gravitational field can be observed, for example, when light from distant stars passes near massive objects like galaxies or black holes. The gravitational field causes the path of light to curve, leading to the distortion or magnification of the observed images.
On the other hand, sound waves and radio waves, being different types of waves, do not experience the same gravitational bending as light waves. This distinction arises from the fact that the behavior of waves depends on the medium through which they propagate.
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a material medium, such as air, water, or solids, for transmission. In a gravitational field, sound waves would propagate through the medium and be influenced by the local gravitational field only indirectly, by affecting the properties of the medium. However, the gravitational field itself does not directly bend or alter the path of sound waves.
Radio waves, which are a type of electromagnetic wave like light, also do not experience significant bending in a gravitational field. This is because the gravitational effects on electromagnetic waves are primarily determined by their interaction with the fabric of spacetime, as described by general relativity. Unlike light, radio waves have much longer wavelengths, and their interaction with gravity is negligible under most circumstances. The curvature of spacetime caused by everyday gravitational fields is typically too weak to noticeably affect radio waves.
In summary, while light waves experience significant bending in a gravitational field due to the curvature of spacetime, sound waves and radio waves are not directly affected in the same way because their behavior depends on the medium through which they propagate rather than the curvature of spacetime.