Gravitation

Gravitation is a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass or energy—including planets, stars, galaxies, and even light—are brought toward (or gravitate toward) one another. On Earth, gravity gives weight to physical objects, and the Moon's gravity causes the ocean tides. The gravitational attraction of the original matter in the Universe and the subsequent expansion of space during the Big Bang caused the formation of the large scale structure of the Universe.

History

The study of gravitation is a major theme in modern physics. Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, which describes gravity not as a force but as a consequence of the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy, is currently the most accurate description of gravitation in modern physics.

Principles

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 the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.

Effects

Gravity has a number of effects on the Universe and its constituents. It is responsible for the structure and dynamics of galaxies, the orbits of planets around stars, and the trajectory of light in the presence of massive objects.

See also

• General relativity
• Gravity
• Physics
• Universe

References

Gravitation Resources
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