You Know Gravity? It Attracts You! Login

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Are there any people who don't know what gravity is?

  The exception is physicists: They know that nobody knows what gravity is, because they know that they don’t know what gravity is. The assumption that they do — that we all do — is understandable.

• What do you mean by gravity is the force of attraction?

  Say that to the average person, and the answer you’ll probably get is some version of: “What are you talking about? Gravity is the force of attraction that makes things fall straight down.” But say it to a physicist, and the answer you’ll get is, “That’s right.” Support our journalism. Subscribe today ArrowRight

• Which is the most important aspect of gravity?

  Gravity is one of the fundamental forces of physics. The most important aspect of gravity is that it is universal: all objects have a gravitational force that attracts other objects to them. The force of gravity acting on any object is dependent upon the masses of both objects and the distance between them. Part 1

• How do you calculate gravity?

  To calculate the force of gravity of an object, use the formula: force of gravity = mg, where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration of the object due to gravity. Since g is always 9.8 m/s^2, just multiply the object's mass by 9.8 and you'll get its force of gravity!

• Is it true that gravity is the force of attraction?

  Consider the assumptions underlying that common answer: “Gravity is the force of attraction that makes things fall straight down.” Well, yes — depending on what we mean by “force.” We can say gravitation is one of the four fundamental forces, but it’s such an outlier that the word “force” becomes nearly meaningless.

• Do you have to think about gravity all the time?

  The assumption that they do — that we all do — is understandable. Unless you think hard about gravity, your brain does what it evolved to do: It associates gravity with your relationship to the ground beneath your feet. You don’t have to think about gravity because you know it in your bones.

• Is it true that gravity makes things fall straight down?

  Advertisement So: “Gravity is what makes things fall straight down.” Well, yes — depending on what we mean by “straight down.” The path seems straight only because you’re standing still relative to the Earth.

• How did the discovery of the graviton help nature?

  (The discovery of the graviton — a hypothetical particle that would mediate with nature on gravity’s behalf in the same way that the gluon does for the strong nuclear, the photon does for electromagnetism, and the W and Z bosons do for the weak nuclear — would help.