The Einstein field equations relate the geometry of space-time to the source of the curvature: the material and energy that pervade the Universe. This is the essence of the theory of general relativity, ‘GR’. In their full generality the equations cannot be solved analytically, they are nonlinear partial differential equations which can only be solved in situations of high symmetry. In the case of weak gravitational fields we recover Newton's theory, as we should expect. Importantly, the theory also provides us with the local inertial frames of the special theory of relativity. In this way, the well-established classical physics is ‘safe’, we do not have to rewrite our textbooks.

Locally, we live in the arena of weak quasi-Newtonian gravitational fields. The geometry is slightly curved, otherwise there would be no gravitation at all, and so the metric of the space-time is almost the Minkowski metric. Knowing this we can easily go the one or more steps beyond Newton and look for tests of these post-Newtonian deviations. The classical tests such as gravitational lensing and planetary orbits provide strong evidence for GR at this level. In recent decades we have seen the rise of GPS devices that require the use of GR in order to return correct positions.

Non-Newtonian predictions, such as strong gravitational fields, i.e. black holes, and gravitational waves are now being tested. We have abundant evidence for black holes from the study of the nuclei of galaxies. The existence of gravitational waves was inferred from the decay of binary stellar orbits and now they have been detected directly using gravitational wave antennas.

General relativity, or some modification of the theory, is the framework for gravitational physics. In this chapter we look at the experimental support for Einstein's theory and consider possible alternative theories. We also address the question as to how we should carry over our understanding of the laws of physics to the curved space-times of general relativity.