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According to Newtonian mechanics, light is not affected by gravity because it is considered to be composed of massless particles. In this framework, gravity only affects objects with mass, causing them to experience gravitational forces and follow curved trajectories. Therefore, Newtonian mechanics does not account for the bending of light in a gravitational field.

On the other hand, according to general relativity, gravity is described as the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy. In this framework, light is affected by gravity and can be deflected from its straight path when passing through a gravitational field.

According to general relativity, the presence of mass or energy causes spacetime to curve. When light travels through this curved spacetime, its path appears to bend due to the curvature. This effect is known as gravitational lensing. The amount of bending depends on the strength of the gravitational field and the proximity of the light to the massive object.

The predictions of general relativity have been confirmed through observations, such as the bending of starlight around the Sun during a solar eclipse. This phenomenon was a crucial test of Einstein's theory and provided strong evidence for the validity of general relativity.

In summary, while Newtonian mechanics does not account for light bending in a gravitational field, general relativity accurately describes how light is affected by gravity, attributing it to the curvature of spacetime.

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