Is gravity a force or curved spacetime?

Gravity is the curvature of spacetime Gravity is the curvature of the universe, caused by massive bodies, which determines the path that objects travel. That curvature is dynamical, moving as those objects move. In Einstein’s view of the world, gravity is the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects.

How do we know space-time is curved?

In general relativity, spacetime is not ‘flat’ but is curved by the presence of massive bodies. This artistic representation visualises spacetime as a simplified, two-dimensional surface, which is being distorted by the presence of three massive bodies, represented as coloured spheres.

How can you prove gravity is not a force?

In general relativity, gravity is not a force between masses. Instead gravity is an effect of the warping of space and time in the presence of mass. Without a force acting upon it, an object will move in a straight line.

When a mass bends space/time what force is present?

Anything with mass—including your body—bends this four-dimensional cosmic grid. The warp, in turn, creates the effect of gravity, redirecting the path of objects that travel into it. The strength of gravity depends on the size of the space-time warp.

What does space time curve into?

Nothing. It curves into nothing because there is nothing for it to curve into.

Is spacetime a force?

So, to summarize, general relativity says that matter bends spacetime, and the effect of that bending of spacetime is to create a generalized kind of force that acts on objects. However, it isn’t a force as such that acts on the object, but rather just the object following its geodesic path through spacetime.

Why there is no gravity in space?

Because space is relatively empty, there is little air to feel whooshing past you as you fall and there are no landmarks to indicate you are moving. The second reason that gravity is not so obvious in space is because objects tend to orbit planets instead of hitting them.

Does Electromagnetism warp spacetime?

Yes, electromagnetism bends spacetime because it has energy, and anything that has energy bends spacetime (i.e., interacts with gravity).

How does gravity affect space time?

The gravitational field is really a curving of space and time. The stronger the gravity, the more spacetime curves, and the slower time itself proceeds. Time itself is slowing down and speeding up because of the relativistic way in which mass warps space and time.

Is gravity actually curved space?

If gravity is actually curved space and if falling objects are simply following the natural curves of space why does each object have its own curve? This is a great question which goes to the heart of why Einstein said gravity is the curvature of space-time, rather than just the curvature of space.

How does mass affect the shape of spacetime?

Mass/energy curves spacetime and a body follows this curvature so gravity is basically the geometry of spacetime. If there is no force of gravity why does a mass move at all along the curvature of spacetime and what determines which way it will move. E.G.

What is the relationship between gravity and space-time curvature?

However, general relativity gives a much deeper picture of gravity as a description of the curvature of space-time, so, in a way, gravity is an observed effect of the curvature of space-time, or, if you like, an observed effect of the distribution of mass and energy.

What is the relationship between mass/energy and gravity?

Mass curves spacetime, there is no such thing as gravity? It is said that there is no such thing as gravity. Mass/energy curves spacetime and a body follows this curvature so gravity is basically the geometry of spacetime.