If Space Gets Curved by Mass In Space. Does This Curvature Have A Definite Contour?

Question

or Is It Random.

Just Wonderin As Some Sattelites Have Round Orbits, While Others Have Elliptical.
So The Space Has A Curvature Defined By Exactly What?

@ Dan Im And Engineer And Quite Familiar With Calculus.

Artificial Satellites Can Be Put In Circular Or Elliptical Orbits. So Space Does Not Have A Definite Curvature Due To Presence Of Mass

Answer 1

Space doesn't get curved. The orbits of satellites, moons, planets, stars, and even galaxies are affected by many different things. The main reason a satellite's orbit may be elliptical would be the gravitational influence from a body like the moon or other nearby object of substantial mass. Even small planets cause massive stars to noticably wobble. I hope this answers your question. Goodluck!

Answer 2

The curvature in space time is an analog for what happens and the actual graph of the function is not really considered.

Orbits are usually elliptical because acceleration in a gravity is not normally uniform, it changes as the distance to the source of the gravity changes. For example the Earth is falling into the sun, and as it gets closer it speeds up. At a point very near to leaving our sun it reaches its maximum speed. At the farthest point from the sun the Earth traveling at its slowest speed. You need calculus to calculate the exact speed and place in an orbit. That's why it is called rocket science.

The curvature of space is defined by the gravity of the source mass, but the curvature can be distorted by the other masses within range. For example our moon rotates the earth, which is rotating the sun, which is rotating the super massive black hole in the center of the Milky Way. Meanwhile we are speeding on our way to a collision with the Andromeda galaxy in 2-3 billion years. Imagine the curvature of space time when the two super massive black holes meet!

The curvature of space is NEVER random, it is solely due to gravity.

Answer 3

The curvature due to the presence of mass is definite. However, it's a curvature of *spacetime*, not of space. Comparing curvature of orbits in space is not enough. You must compare worldlines in spacetime. The circular orbit and the elliptical orbit each follow exactly the curvature of spacetime in their direction of travel at any particular point.

Answer 4

The curvature is not random. It is determined by Einstein's laws. In this interpretation, both the circular orbit and the elliptical orbit are the 'straightest possible lines' in the curved spacetime.