Does general relativity mean gravity is not a force?

Gravity is most accurately described by the general theory of relativity (proposed by Albert Einstein in 1915), which describes gravity not as a force, but as a consequence of masses moving along geodesic lines in a curved spacetime caused by the uneven distribution of mass.

What does relativity say about gravity?

GETTING A GRIP ON GRAVITY Einstein’s general theory of relativity explains gravity as a distortion of space (or more precisely, spacetime) caused by the presence of matter or energy. A massive object generates a gravitational field by warping the geometry of the surrounding spacetime.

Did Einstein said gravity is not a force?

Einstein argued that gravity isn’t a force at all. He described it as a curvature of time and space caused by mass and energy. Their math, laid down in 10 equations, explained how gravity could move around objects via a warped reality, accelerating without ever feeling any mysterious Newtonian forces.

Does gravity affect relativity?

Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity predicted that gravity and speed influences time; the faster you travel the more time slows down, but also the more gravity pulling on you the more time slows down.

What is gravity if it’s 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.

Is gravity actually a force?

The answer is gravity: an invisible force that pulls objects toward each other. Earth’s gravity is what keeps you on the ground and what makes things fall. Anything that has mass also has gravity. But because Earth is so much more massive than you, your force doesn’t really have an effect on our planet.

Is gravity a true force?

In general relativity, gravity is a fictitious force. In classical mechanics, fictitious forces are not considered “real” forces.

What are the three consequences of general relativity?

Some of the consequences of general relativity are: Gravitational time dilation: Clocks run slower in deeper gravitational wells. Precession: Orbits precess in a way unexpected in Newton’s theory of gravity. (This has been observed in the orbit of Mercury and in binary pulsars).

Can gravity be considered a force?

Gravity is considered a universal force because it acts between any two masses anywhere in the universe. For example, there is a gravitational pull between the Sun and the Moon. Even small masses attract each other. The force of gravity between dust and gas particles in space helped form the solar system.

Why is gravity not a force?

The General Theory of Relativity tells us gravity is not a force, gravitational fields don’t exist. Objects tend to move on straight paths through curved spacetime.

How does gravity relate to general relativity?

General relativity says that energy (in the form of mass, light, and whatever other forms it comes in) tells spacetime how to bend, and the bending of spacetime tells that energy how to move. The concept of “gravity” is then that objects are falling along the bending of spacetime.

Why is Einstein’s theory of gravity wrong?

But it is wrong, in part because Newton misunderstood what gravity is. He considered gravity to be a force that objects exert upon each other. But, in a burst of brilliance, Einstein realized that no such force is required and in fact no such force exists.

Is gravity a force of attraction or curvature?

Based on this thought experiment, Einstein concluded that gravity is not a force of attraction, for no such force is required. Instead, it is something quite different — a curvature in the fabric of space-time.