Gravity dilates time through a phenomenon known as gravitational time dilation. According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, the presence of mass or a gravitational field affects the passage of time.
In the presence of a gravitational field, clocks closer to a massive object or in a stronger gravitational field tick more slowly compared to clocks farther away or in a weaker gravitational field. This means that time passes at a different rate depending on the strength of the gravitational field experienced by an observer or a clock.
The concept can be understood by considering the curvature of spacetime caused by mass. In the vicinity of a massive object, such as a star or a planet, spacetime is curved. As a result, the path of light or the trajectory of objects is influenced by this curvature.
Clocks are affected by this curvature as well. A clock closer to a massive object will experience a stronger gravitational field and will, therefore, run slower relative to a clock farther away. This difference in the rate at which time passes is what is referred to as gravitational time dilation.
To summarize, gravity affects the flow of time by causing clocks in stronger gravitational fields to run slower compared to clocks in weaker gravitational fields. This effect has been experimentally confirmed through various observations and measurements, such as the precise synchronization of atomic clocks at different altitudes or in different gravitational environments.