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Astrophysics & Cosmology FAQ

Gravitational lensing is caused by:

Gravity bending spacetime, curving light paths. As predicted by general relativity, massive objects curve spacetime and deflect passing light — observed as gravitational lensing.

Short Answer

Gravity bending spacetime, curving light paths is the best answer.

Astrophysics questions often combine observation with first-principles physics. The winning move is to connect the measurement being made, such as luminosity, spectrum, redshift, or orbit, to the physical model behind it.

As predicted by general relativity, massive objects curve spacetime and deflect passing light — observed as gravitational lensing.

Why This Answer Is Correct

This is a Medium-level question in Astrophysics & Cosmology. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.

Good astrophysics reasoning always asks what the telescope actually measured and what physical quantity that measurement traces.

Choices At A Glance

  • A. Refraction through galactic dust
  • B. Gravity bending spacetime, curving light paths
  • C. Magnetic fields around galaxies
  • D. Dark energy repulsion

When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.

Topic Snapshot

Topic: Astrophysics & Cosmology

Difficulty: Medium

Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.