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How light bend with gravity?
Light bends due to gravity because of the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects. This phenomenon is explained by Einstein's theory of general relativity. According to this theory, gravity is not a force that acts between objects but rather a consequence of how mass warps spacetime. When light passes near a massive object, it follows the shortest path through this curved spacetime, which results in its bending. This effect is known as gravitational lensing.
Here's a simplified explanation of how light bends with gravity:
- Curvature of Spacetime: Massive objects like stars or galaxies warp spacetime around them, creating a curvature.
- Path of Light: Light always follows the shortest path available in spacetime. If spacetime is curved, the path of light will also be curved.
- Gravitational Lensing: This bending of light can create optical illusions, such as magnifying distant objects or creating multiple images of a single object, as seen in the case of the Twin Quasar.
Examples of light bending due to gravity include:
- Black Holes: Light cannot escape once it crosses the event horizon of a black hole due to the extreme gravitational pull.
- Gravitational Lenses: Galaxies can act as lenses, bending light from distant objects to create multiple images or magnify them12.
In summary, light bends due to gravity because it follows the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects, a principle central to Einstein's theory of general relativity.