Gravity doesn’t just pull objects together—it also affects the way time flows. According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, massive objects like planets, stars, and black holes warp space and time around them. This warping changes the rate at which time passes, a phenomenon known as gravitational time dilation.
In simple terms, the stronger the gravity, the slower time moves. For example, a clock near the surface of the Earth runs slightly slower than a clock on a satellite in orbit. Near extremely massive objects, like black holes, time can slow down dramatically compared to regions with weaker gravity. This means that an observer far from the black hole would see someone near it moving in slow motion.
Gravitational time dilation has practical effects in our daily life as well. GPS satellites must account for both their speed and the weaker gravity in orbit, or their timing would drift and navigation would become inaccurate. Without correcting for these relativistic effects, even small differences in time would lead to large errors in positioning.
In short, gravity and time are closely connected. Massive objects bend the fabric of space-time, causing time to flow differently depending on location. Understanding this relationship is crucial for both modern technology and our understanding of the universe.