Visualizing Spacetime Curvature

This model illustrates the curvature of spacetime around a supermassive object, accompanied by a detailed data sheet. In simple terms, gravity can be seen as the curvature of spacetime because massive objects like planets and stars bend the fabric of space and time around them. This idea comes from Einstein's theory of General Relativity.

Key Features

• Spacetime Curvature: The more massive an object, the greater its effect on the curvature of spacetime. This model visualizes how gravitational forces decrease with distance, shown by the diminishing curve angle. Represented by the black and white material.
• Black Hole: Black holes are regions in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. They form when massive stars collapse under their own gravity at the end of their life cycle. The core contracts to a point of infinite density called a singularity, where gravitational forces are incredibly intense. Represented by our filament ball.
• Event Horizon: Represented by the red circle, this boundary marks the point beyond which events cannot influence an outside observer. The acceleration is so strong from this point on, that not even light can escape it's grasp. In this model, the yellow filament ball signifies the black hole.

Gravitational Acceleration Formula

• a or g: Acceleration due to gravity
• G: Gravitational constant, 6.674 × 10^−11 Nm^2 kg^−2
• M: Mass of the object causing the gravitational field
• r: Distance from the object's center

This formula shows that gravitational acceleration decreases with the square of the distance. For example, Earth's gravitational acceleration at sea level (r=6.371 × 10^6 m and M = 5,972 × 10^24 kg) is approximately 9.81 m/s^2.

Experiment with different values for M and r to see how they affect gravitational acceleration. For instance, you can calculate the acceleration at the altitude of the International Space Station, that the astronauts on board experience!

So, the gravitational acceleration experienced by an object due to our 6-gram ball of filament at a distance of 1 cm is approximately a = 4.0044 × 10^−9 m/s^2

A nice real life demonstration of how this works is shown in this video. Check it out!