Timelike geodesics are the paths that particles with mass follow through spacetime when moving under the influence of gravity alone, without any non-gravitational forces acting on them. These paths are the 'straightest' possible routes in a curved spacetime, meaning they represent the most efficient way to travel from one point to another for an object with mass. Understanding timelike geodesics is crucial for analyzing the motion of objects in general relativity, as they reflect how mass influences the structure of spacetime.
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