Curved Space: Feynman's Physics Explained

Feynman Vol II10-11

Einstein's general relativity gives a new view of gravity: not a force, but a property of space-time itself. Mass and energy curve space-time, and objects simply follow the straightest possible path through that curved geometry. A bug on the surface of a sphere would find the angles of a triangle add up to more than 180 degrees — it lives in a curved space. Our own three-dimensional space is curved too, though only noticeably near massive objects.

The big idea

Gravity is not a force but the curving of space-time by mass.

Think about it

If a falling object is just following the straightest path through curved space-time, in what sense is gravity not really a 'pull'?

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