What is Time and How Gravity Shapes It?

Time is one of the most mysterious aspects of our universe — we cannot see it, yet everything we do depends on it. But what exactly is time? At its simplest, time is the way we measure change. The ticking of a clock, the beating of a heart, the orbit of Earth around the Sun — all are signs that time is moving forward. Scientists describe time as a dimension, much like length, width, and height, forming what we call spacetime. Now, here’s where gravity comes in. Gravity is not just a force pulling objects down, as we feel on Earth — it is actually the bending of spacetime caused by mass. Imagine placing a heavy ball on a stretched rubber sheet: the sheet curves, and smaller balls placed nearby roll towards the heavy ball. That’s how planets attract moons, stars hold planets in orbit, and black holes trap even light. So how does this connect to time? When spacetime bends, time itself bends with it. Near a strong gravitational field — like a black hole or even Earth — time runs slower compared to areas with weaker gravity. This is known as gravitational time dilation. For example, if you lived on a planet with massive gravity, your seconds would tick slower compared to someone far away in space. Gravity depends on mass. The more mass an object has, the stronger its gravitational pull. Mass is simply the amount of matter an object contains — every atom, every particle adds up. A small stone has little gravity, Earth has enough gravity to keep us grounded, and the Sun has so much gravity that it keeps entire planets in orbit. When mass increases, spacetime bends more, and time itself becomes more distorted. In short: Time is the measurement of change. Gravity is the curvature of spacetime caused by mass. Mass increases gravity, and stronger gravity slows time. This shows us that time, mass, and gravity are deeply connected — not just concepts in science, but the very fabric of reality. Next time you look at a clock, remember: it doesn’t just tick forward; it bends and dances with the universe itself.