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Effect of gravity on light

Since we can think of light as having a mass tex2html_wrap_inline867 , relative to an observer in an accelerated lift, light will curve downwards [ see Figure 5.5 ]. Therefore by the principle of equivalence, light will also be bent in a gravitational field [ examples: light deflection  due to the sun's gravitational field; observed during a total solar eclipse. Lensing of cosmological sources. ].

 

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Figure 5.5: The bending of light



Peter Dunsby
Sat Jun 15 22:42:15 ADT 1996