Abstract
An exact solution of the Einstein field equations with perfect fluid source is interpreted as a gravitational wave pulse propagating in a spatially homogeneous spacetime. By studying the matter density of the fluid, we reach the conclusion that if the model universe is expanding the perfect fluid loses energy as a result of the passage of the wave pulse, while if the universe is contracting the opposite occurs. We also study the effect of the wave pulse on the kinematics of the fluid and on the curvature and conformal curvature of the hypersurfaces orthogonal to the fluid flow.

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