How does space-time curvature affect light?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the interaction between light and the curvature of spacetime around massive objects, particularly black holes. Participants clarify that gravity is equivalent to warped spacetime, which affects the trajectory of light. While light travels in straight lines, its path can be bent by gravitational fields, as demonstrated during solar eclipses. However, near a black hole's event horizon, the curvature is so extreme that all potential paths for light lead inward, preventing escape.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of General Relativity principles
  • Familiarity with the concept of spacetime curvature
  • Knowledge of gravitational lensing phenomena
  • Basic grasp of light-like geodesics and null geodesics
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  • Research "General Relativity and its implications on light behavior"
  • Explore "Gravitational lensing and its observational evidence"
  • Study "Black hole event horizons and their properties"
  • Investigate "Light-like geodesics in curved spacetime"
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Astronomers, physicists, students of General Relativity, and anyone interested in the effects of gravity on light propagation.

lynchmob72
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If space is warped around heavy objects in space, i feel that space would be FUBAR around black holes. So, my question is, Does light get sucked in by gravity, or does it just get caught in the warped space around a black hole?
 
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lynchmob72 said:
If space is warped around heavy objects in space, i feel that space would be FUBAR around black holes. So, my question is, Does light get sucked in by gravity, or does it just get caught in the warped space around a black hole?
Gravity IS the "warped spacetime".
 
phinds said:
Gravity IS the "warped spacetime".
Well, I understand that gravity is space pushing on you (Thanks to Relativity). My problem is, Light travels in a straight line. Warped space will bend light, but not make it disappear. I know that a black hole funnels space to the center or singularity, but i also know that warped space can't hold light. When the solar eclipse that proved Relativity happened, light traveled through warped space, then came out of it so we could see it. It should have wrapped around the sun, but it didn't. So, i wonder.
 
lynchmob72 said:
It should have wrapped around the sun,
"around"? The path of the light and the mass / diameter of the Sun would only produce a slight warping effect, which is what was seen. These effects are all a matter of degree and mostly cannot be seen at all because the conditions are not extreme enough.
 
lynchmob72 said:
My problem is, Light travels in a straight line. Warped space will bend light, but not make it disappear. I know that a black hole funnels space to the center or singularity, but i also know that warped space can't hold light. When the solar eclipse that proved Relativity happened, light traveled through warped space, then came out of it so we could see it. It should have wrapped around the sun, but it didn't.

Yes, light travels in a "straight" line, and curvature can mean these straight lines aren't really straight (rather as a straight line on the curved surface of the Earth will bend as it follows that curved surface).

The sun is not a black hole; its gravitational field is just strong enough to bend the path off to one side a bit. That's what Eddington's group observed in the solar eclipse (and we have since seen many more spectacular examples - google for "gravitational lensing").

The spacetime curvature near a black hole is so strong that at the event horizon all the straight-line paths that light can follow ("light-like geodesics" or "null geodesics" in the lingo) lead inwards. At the event horizon light cannot escape because there is no path out; move at the speed of light in any direction and you'll still end up inside the black hole.
 
Thank you for the replies.
 

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