Pop Science and Apologetics

The fundamental premise of general relativity is that gravity isn't a force but a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime, a four-dimensional continuum of three spatial dimensions and one time dimension. Mass and energy cause this fabric to curve. This curvature dictates the path of objects, including light, which follow the straightest possible path a geodesic through the curved spacetime. Light Travel and Spacetime Curvature In the classical Newtonian view, gravity is a force that pulls objects toward one another. However, general relativity proposes a different and more accurate description: Mass warps spacetime: Just as a bowling ball placed on a trampoline causes it to sag, massive objects like stars and planets create a "dent" in the fabric of spacetime. The more massive the object, the greater the curvature. Light follows the curvature: Light, having energy and momentum, follows these curves. This is why light from a distant star appears to bend as ...