 Gravitational field

In Newtonian gravity, the gravitational field $\mathbf{g}$ specifies the acceleration of a freely falling test particle at each position. A gravitational potential $\Phi$ gives $\mathbf{g}=-\nabla \Phi$, with the gradient taken in the spatial geometry of the model. In general relativity, the metric tensor describes gravitational effects, and tidal forces are encoded by spacetime curvature.

A gravitational field is a region of space near a mass where another mass experiences a force due to the gravitational attraction of the first mass. It represents the influence that a massive object, such as a planet or star, exerts on any other object with mass within its vicinity.