Why/how do massive objects bend space time?

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My understanding of gravity is admittedly thin. I’ve seen the example of a sheet with a ball and marbles (I understand this is highly simplified). However, what is the mechanism that causes space time to bend around objects?

In: Physics

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

We are currently without a quantum theory of gravity. Gravity is understood in terms of what it effects, and local bending of spacetime is an ELI5 explanation. However, the mechanism for how this effect is produced is unknown. There is a potential force carrier particle, called the graviton, and some insight to how that might work has come from gravity wave observations. Alas, gravity is such a weak force that it has resisted detailed experimental control.

Anonymous 0 Comments

We can model how gravity works but we can’t explain why the universe is the way it is. We can’t do that with anything. Asking why things work the way they do is fundamentally not a meaningful question. I recommend watching [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36GT2zI8lVA) of famous physicist Richard Feynman explaining why ‘why’ questions like these don’t really make sense.