# Is the gravitational field an illusion, a by-product of geometry? [duplicate]

The principle of general covariance from the Equivalence Principle (EEP) tells us that there is no way in principle to locally distinguish between an inertial acceleration and the effects of a gravitational field. When general covariance is expressed in tensorial form we find that if the equation holds true in an inertial frame that it must hold true in a non-inertial frame of reference.

My question is, if the above is true, is a gravitation field just an illusion? Why do we have to consider a gravitational field at all. Why not think of gravity as the effect of the bending of space and time, with gravitation revealed as an illusion, a by-product of geometry. I feel it is the presence of matter that warps space around it, giving us the illusion that there is a gravitation force pulling on neighboring objects.

## marked as duplicate by StephenG, Aaron Stevens, John Rennie general-relativity StackExchange.ready(function() { if (StackExchange.options.isMobile) return; $('.dupe-hammer-message-hover:not(.hover-bound)').each(function() { var$hover = $(this).addClass('hover-bound'),$msg = $hover.siblings('.dupe-hammer-message');$hover.hover( function() { $hover.showInfoMessage('', { messageElement:$msg.clone().show(), transient: false, position: { my: 'bottom left', at: 'top center', offsetTop: -7 }, dismissable: false, relativeToBody: true }); }, function() { StackExchange.helpers.removeMessages(); } ); }); }); Dec 7 '18 at 8:57

• Why not think of gravity as the effect of the bending of space and time This is precisely what the theory of general relativity does. You are talking yourself into loops, IMO. – StephenG Dec 6 '18 at 19:13
• Um, this is Einstein's "Theory of General Relativity". Full Stop. – Brad S Dec 6 '18 at 19:13
• This is a very similar question to what I asked some months ago: Does Gravity Cause the bending of space/time or Is gravity the bending of space/time. physics.stackexchange.com/questions/413846/… – foolishmuse Dec 6 '18 at 19:38
• Possible duplicate of If gravity isn't a force, then why do we learn in school that it is? – John Rennie Dec 7 '18 at 8:57