Curved Time Creates Gravity
Curved time creates gravity because of how time dilation affects the motion of objects. This is a key idea in Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, where gravity is explained as the curvature of spacetime.
Understanding Spacetime and Gravity
In general relativity, gravity is not a force in the traditional sense, like in Newtonian physics. Instead, mass and energy curve spacetime, and objects move along the natural paths, called geodesics, determined by this curvature.
The Role of Curved Time
While both space and time are curved by mass, the curvature of time plays a dominant role in creating what we perceive as gravity. Time slows down near massive objects, an effect called gravitational time dilation. The stronger the gravitational field, the slower time flows relative to a distant observer. Falling objects follow the gradient of time dilation, meaning they naturally move toward regions where time runs slower.
How Curved Time Leads to Free Fall
Imagine standing on Earth’s surface. Far above, time runs slightly faster. This time difference creates a gradient in time, meaning that as you move downward, you enter regions where time ticks slower. If an object is released, it naturally moves toward the region where time moves more slowly. This movement follows what we recognize as falling under gravity. The object is not “pulled” downward; rather, it moves naturally through spacetime because of the way time is warped by Earth’s mass.
Einstein’s Thought Experiment (Gravitational Acceleration as Time Flow)
Einstein illustrated this idea with an elevator thought experiment. If an elevator were accelerating in deep space, time near the bottom would tick slower than time near the top. This effect is identical to what happens near a massive body like Earth. The gradient in time behaves like an acceleration, which is why falling under gravity is indistinguishable from being in an accelerating spaceship, a concept known as Einstein’s equivalence principle.
Summary: Time Curvature = Gravity
Mass curves spacetime, but the warping of time most directly leads to gravitational attraction. Objects move toward slower time regions, creating the effect we perceive as gravity. The reason you feel your weight on Earth is that the ground prevents you from following the natural geodesic, or freefall, through curved spacetime.
