Space-Time Curvature

a quantity in the general theory of relativity (theory of gravitation) characterizing the extent of deviation of the properties of space-time from the properties of the flat space-time of the special theory of relativity. The concept of space-time curvature arose by analogy with the concept of total curvature in the geometry of surfaces. The space-time curvature is described by the curvature tensor. The cosmological model types essentially depend on the functional forms of the tensor of the space-time curvature.