Is general relativity about curved space?

In general relativity, spacetime is not ‘flat’ but is curved by the presence of massive bodies. The curvature of spacetime influences the motion of massive bodies within it; in turn, as massive bodies move in spacetime, the curvature changes and the geometry of spacetime is in constant evolution.

What happens when spacetime is bent?

Large objects such as the Sun and planets aren’t the only masses that warp the fabric of space-time. 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.

How does matter curve space?

It is a four-dimensional structure whose shape is determined by the presence of matter and energy. Around any mass (or energy), spacetime is curved. When a smaller mass passes near a larger mass, it curves toward the larger mass because spacetime itself is curved toward the larger mass.

Is spacetime literally curved?

Spacetime is curved by gravity, this is a very useful model, but this model of curved spacetime is not compatible with quantum mechanics. However, gravity may also be represented in the form of gravitational time dilation in flat, uncurved space.

How does matter bend space?

Since matter carries energy (via Einstein’s famous relation that energy is mass times the speed of light squared), such objects will have a gravitational field and so they will distort space-time.

How does the equivalence principle lead us to suspect that spacetime might be curved?

How does the equivalence principle lead us to suspect that spacetime might be curved? curves down along with the ship’s motion. This suggests that the light, traveling in spacetime, follows a curved path.

Does acceleration warp spacetime?

Gravity and acceleration are equivalent. Therefore, acceleration warps spacetime.

What is the curvature of spacetime?

A distortion in the way we measure distance implies curvature. In the context of general relativity, this is what we mean when we say spacetime is curved. Distance has warped such that the straightest possible path is not what you expect.

What does general relativity say about the shape of spacetime?

I omit indices and constants haha. So general relativity says how the spacetime is curved under the influence of matter. The second part of the story is that general relativity also says how matter moves in external geometry. It moves along “geodesics”, lines that are as straight as you can get.

What is a curved space?

In general, we mean by a curved space simply one in which the rules of Euclidean geometry break down with one sign of discrepancy or the other. The amount of curvature—defined, say, by the excess radius—may vary from place to place. Fig. 42–14. A two-dimensional space with zero intrinsic curvature.

What is the relationship between space and gravity?

Special relativity argued that space and time are inextricably connected, but that theory didn’t acknowledge the existence of gravity. Einstein spent the decade between the two publications determining that particularly massive objects warp the fabric of space-time, a distortion that manifests as gravity, according to NASA.