ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of gravitational physics and relativity

Gravitational physics and relativity are two related scientific theories. They help us understand how gravity works in the universe.

Gravitational physics is the study of how gravity affects things like planets, stars, and other objects in space. It was developed in 1687 by English physicist Isaac Newton. Newton's law of gravity states that objects in space attract each other due to the force of gravity.

Relativity is a scientific theory developed by Albert Einstein in 1905. It explains how gravity affects things like time, space, and energy. Einstein's theory of relativity says that gravity affects the way time and space are measured. It also states that the speed of light is constant, and that the laws of physics must be the same for all observers.

Together, gravitational physics and relativity help us understand the universe in a way that was never possible before. They help us understand why planets orbit each other, why the universe is expanding, and how stars form and die. They are the foundation for modern cosmology, the study of the origin and evolution of the universe.