Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 9 - Reading Check Questions (Comprehension) - Page 177: 26

Answer

When Einstein saw a planet curve as it traveled through space, he saw the planet naturally following the shortest path (known as the geodesic path) through 4-dimensional spacetime. The reason its path appears curved is because spacetime is warped by mass.

Work Step by Step

This is discussed on page 173.
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