Can the gravity of the earth bend light??

Answer 1

Yes, any gravity field will deflect the path of the photons. However, the earths gravity field is so weak (in comparison to the Sun or another star) that the deflection is alomost immeasurable.

Answer 2

In general relativity, the effects of gravitation are ascribed to the curvature of spacetime, instead of being a force. Simplistically, these curvatures cause a free falling object to deviate from its geodesic [which is the notion of a "straight line" to curved spacetime; i.e. the world line of particle free from all external force is a particular type of geodesic]. The situation is analogous to setting a bowling ball on a bed; the heavy ball depresses a nearby region of the bed's surface. If you then roll a marble across this "depression" it feels the curvature created by the massive body. The marble thrown onto the bed moves toward the bowling ball. Because its motion is not along a line and its velocity changes, the marble is now accelerating. Therefore it does not matter whether light has mass in order for it to "bend". Now, onto your question. If you look at gravitation as a result of spacetime curvatures and not a force, you'll realize that light can influence a gravitational field since it possesses momentum and energy [by the equation: E^2 = m^2c^4 + p^2c^2]. They're probably not the only reasons, however. Edit: I was wrong, which I realized after reading the above posts. Thanks for the question anyway, made me learn a bit.

Answer 3

Well, the gravity of mass actually bends space and therefore the path that light must follow through the space. Just a different way of saying the same thing.

Answer 4

Yes. all gravity bends light to some degree. the mass of the Earth is big enough that it actually bend light to a measurable amount.

Answer 5

The nature of light (that is, whether light is matter or is only energy) is still under debate. The earth does bend light but that is because of refraction of light in the atmosphere, not because of gravity. If this qestion has to do with school or college work, I suppose you could say gravity of the earth does not bend light.

Answer 6

Well gravity has little to do with light. The visible light spectrum or light we as humans are able to see isnt affected at all by the gravity of the earth. the gravity of all NINE planets. any planet that doesnt something blocking it from the sun's rays gets lite no matter their gravity. the planets is our solar system and the moons all get lite no matter their gravitational field. the answer regarding protons makes no sense. that kinda thing falls under the area of the electromagnetic field. that helps protect the planet from getting roasted.

Answer 7

There have been some experiments that indicates that large mass will bend light.

Answer 8

Yes, it bends light but in infinitesimally small extent, Actually everthing in universe attracts every other, but it all depends on mass & distance of the bodies.
Do u know about black hole? ... it has so much mass that it attracts light just like we are attracted towards earth.

Answer 9

Anything with the property of mass will distort, or warp spacetime. Since the Earth has mass, it will deflect photons of light.

Answer 10

Yes. Not by much, but by some little bit.