Newton described gravity as an attractive force between two masses but Einstein’s General Theory of
Relativity provides a very different explanation. Implicit in Einstein’s theory is the idea that
gravitational effects are the result of a distortion in the shape of space-time. Despite its
elegance, Einstein’s concept of gravity is rarely encountered outside of an advanced physics course
as it is often considered to be too complex and too mathematical. This paper describes a new
conceptual and quantitative model of gravity based on General Relativity at a level most science
students should be able to understand. The model illustrates geodesics using analogies with paths of
navigation on the surface of the Earth. This is extended to space and time maps incorporating the
time warping effects of General Relativity. Using basic geometry, the geodesic path of a falling
object near the surface of the Earth is found. From this the acceleration of an object in free fall
is calculated. Th…