curvature of space

noun

Physics, Astronomy.

1. (in relativity) a property of space near massive bodies in which their gravitational field causes light to travel along curved paths.

2. (in cosmology) a large-scale property of the universe that has an algebraic sign that depends upon whether the density of matter and radiation of the universe exceeds, equals, or is less than the critical density, leading, respectively, to a closed universe with a positive sign, a flat universe with value zero, or an open universe with a negative sign.

Word History and Origins

Origin of curvature of space¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

But because of the curvature of space within black holes, you can actually increase the volume without affecting the area of the horizon, and this will not affect the entropy!

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Albert Einstein has his famous theory describing how the force of gravity is a property of what’s called the “curvature” of space.

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The curvature of the rubber sheet is not only a curvature of space, but a curvature of time as well.

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The curvature of space gets greater and greater as you approach a black hole, and it never bottoms out.

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Furthermore, the bubble could not be controlled by occupants of the spaceship itself because they would lose contact with the outside world, owing to the extremely strong curvature of space around them.

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