The presence of massive objects bends space-time due to the effects of gravity, as described by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. According to this theory, mass and energy warp the fabric of space-time, creating a gravitational field.
In the framework of general relativity, space and time are not separate entities but are unified into a four-dimensional continuum called space-time. Massive objects, such as stars or planets, create a curvature in this space-time continuum. The curvature is not a physical bending in the traditional sense but represents the geometric warping of the fabric of space-time itself.
The curvature of space-time around a massive object can be visualized using the analogy of a stretched elastic sheet. Imagine placing a heavy object, like a bowling ball, on a trampoline. The trampoline surface, representing space-time, becomes curved or distorted in the region around the bowling ball. If you roll a smaller object, like a marble, on the trampoline, it will follow a curved path due to the curvature of the trampoline caused by the heavy ball. Similarly, objects moving through space-time around a massive object will follow curved paths, influenced by the curvature of space-time caused by the mass.
The curvature of space-time determines how objects move in the presence of gravity. The path of an object is influenced by the gravitational field created by the mass of the object, causing the object to experience the force of gravity and follow a curved trajectory.
Einstein's theory of general relativity has been confirmed by various observations and experiments, such as the bending of light around massive objects, the precession of Mercury's orbit, and gravitational waves detected by advanced detectors. These phenomena provide strong evidence for the curvature of space-time caused by massive objects.