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  2. Gravitational time dilation - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation

    v. t. e. Gravitational time dilation is a form of time dilation, an actual difference of elapsed time between two events, as measured by observers situated at varying distances from a gravitating mass. The lower the gravitational potential (the closer the clock is to the source of gravitation), the slower time passes, speeding up as the ...

  3. Time dilation - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation

    v. t. e. Time dilation is the difference in elapsed time as measured by two clocks, either because of a relative velocity between them (special relativity), or a difference in gravitational potential between their locations (general relativity). When unspecified, "time dilation" usually refers to the effect due to velocity.

  4. Gravitational collapse - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_collapse

    Gravitational collapse is the contraction of an astronomical object due to the influence of its own gravity, which tends to draw matter inward toward the center of gravity. [1] Gravitational collapse is a fundamental mechanism for structure formation in the universe. Over time an initial, relatively smooth distribution of matter, after ...

  5. Space travel under constant acceleration - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_travel_under...

    Space travel under constant acceleration. Space travel under constant acceleration is a hypothetical method of space travel that involves the use of a propulsion system that generates a constant acceleration rather than the short, impulsive thrusts produced by traditional chemical rockets. For the first half of the journey the propulsion system ...

  6. Jeans instability - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeans_instability

    t. e. The Jeans instability is a concept in astrophysics that describes an instability that leads to the gravitational collapse of a cloud of gas or dust. [1] It causes the collapse of interstellar gas clouds and subsequent star formation. It occurs when the internal gas pressure is not strong enough to prevent the gravitational collapse of a ...

  7. Free-fall time - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-fall_time

    The free-fall time is the characteristic time that would take a body to collapse under its own gravitational attraction, if no other forces existed to oppose the collapse.. As such, it plays a fundamental role in setting the timescale for a wide variety of astrophysical processes—from star formation to helioseismology to supernovae—in which gravity plays a dominant ro

  8. Interstellar object - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_object

    Interstellar object. An interstellar object is an astronomical object (such as an asteroid, a comet, or a rogue planet, but not a star or stellar remnant) in interstellar space that is not gravitationally bound to a star. This term can also be applied to an object that is on an interstellar trajectory but is temporarily passing close to a star ...

  9. Gravitational lens - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_lens

    Unlike an optical lens, a point-like gravitational lens produces a maximum deflection of light that passes closest to its center, and a minimum deflection of light that travels furthest from its center. Consequently, a gravitational lens has no single focal point, but a focal line. The term "lens" in the context of gravitational light ...