Gravity doesn't "start" in the sense of being turned on or off; it's a fundamental aspect of the universe arising from the presence of mass and energy warping spacetime.
To understand this, let's break it down:
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The Role of Mass and Energy: Anything with mass or energy contributes to gravity. The more mass or energy an object has, the more it warps the surrounding spacetime.
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Spacetime Warping: Imagine spacetime as a fabric. When a massive object is placed on this fabric, it creates a dip or curve. This curvature is gravity.
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Motion Through Warped Spacetime: Objects moving through this warped spacetime follow the curves created by mass and energy. This is why objects are "attracted" to massive objects; they are simply following the path of least resistance through the curved spacetime.
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Not a Traditional Force: Although we often describe gravity as a force, Einstein's theory of general relativity explains that it's more accurately described as the result of the curvature of spacetime. The effect is as if a force is applied, pulling objects together.
Think of it this way: a bowling ball placed on a trampoline causes the trampoline to sag. If you then roll a marble across the trampoline, the marble will curve towards the bowling ball because of the sag. The sag in the trampoline is analogous to the warping of spacetime, and the marble curving towards the bowling ball is analogous to gravity.
In Summary: Gravity isn't "started" by an external event. It's a continuous and inherent property resulting from the presence of mass and energy distorting spacetime. Objects move along the curves of this distortion, which we perceive as gravity.