Gravity examples

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Gravity is a force that attracts objects towards the center of the Earth or towards any other massive physical body. It is a fundamental force of nature that acts on all objects with mass. Gravity plays a significant role in shaping the structure of the universe and governing the motion of celestial bodies. For example, it keeps planets in their stable orbits around the Sun. The strength of gravity depends on the mass of the objects involved, with larger objects exerting a stronger gravitational pull.

Examples

Water droplet

Gravity example - water droplet
Gravity pulling a water droplet off a leaf | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

During the rainy season, water droplets can be observed hanging on the edges of leaves, ready to fall. This phenomenon demonstrates the force of gravity in action. It is the force of gravity that pulls these water droplets downward, directing them towards the ground.

Slipped coin

Gravity example - slipped coin
Gravity drawing a slipped coin downward | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

Imagine holding a handful of coins in your hand. As the grip loosens, some of the coins slip and fall downward. This observable phenomenon is a direct demonstration of gravity in action. Gravity, being the natural force that attracts objects towards the Earth, causes the coins to be pulled downward, leading to their descent from the hand.

Tennis ball

Gravity example - tennis ball
Gravity pulling a thrown-up tennis ball back to the ground | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

Imagine playing with a tennis ball and tossing it into the air. It becomes evident that gravity is at work as the ball is always pulled downward. Regardless of the height to which it is thrown, the ball always descends towards the ground. This behavior of the tennis ball demonstrates the presence of gravity.

Tap water

Gravity example - tap water
Gravity causing water to fall from a tap | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

When the tap is opened, water can be observed falling to the ground. This downward motion of the water is a result of the force of gravity.

Waterfall

Gravity example - waterfall
Gravity guiding water as it cascades down a waterfall | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

When observing a waterfall, one can witness the water gracefully descending downwards. This downward motion of the water is attributed to the force of gravity. Irrespective of the quantity of water flowing from the waterfall, it consistently moves downward, driven by the pull of gravity.

Flying kite

Gravity example - flying kite
Gravity attracting a flying kite towards the Earth | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

During the festival of Makar Sankranti, which involves flying kites, it is common to witness kites descending gracefully to the ground when they become detached from the thread. This phenomenon serves as a visible demonstration of the force of gravity at work.

Dropped ball

Gravity example - dropped ball
Gravity accelerating a dropped ball from a height | Image: Learnool

When a ball is released from a certain height, it consistently moves downward towards the ground. This observation highlights the effect of gravity. Regardless of the ball’s weight, whether it is heavy or light, or the height from which it is dropped, it always experiences the downward pull of gravity.

Swimming

Gravity example - swimming
Gravity attracting a swimmer as they leap into a swimming pool | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

When swimmers jump into a swimming pool, they experience the force of gravity pulling them downwards. Simultaneously, the upward buoyant force exerted by the water counteracts the force of gravity, resulting in the swimmers being pushed upwards. The interplay between gravity and buoyancy plays a crucial role in determining the behavior of objects submerged in a fluid medium, such as water.

Apple

Gravity example - apple
Gravity pulling an apple down from a tree | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

Fruits growing on trees and naturally falling to the ground when ripe is a clear demonstration of gravity in action. The force of gravity, discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, is responsible for pulling the apple and other fruits downwards from the tree and causing them to land on the ground. This fundamental force of nature acts on all objects with mass, like the apple, and attracts them towards the center of the Earth.

Water sprinkler

Gravity example - water sprinkler
Gravity guiding water released from a water sprinkler | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

When a water sprinkler is activated in gardens and farms, the water released from the sprinkler falls directly to the ground. This downward motion of the water is a clear demonstration of gravity in action.

Debris flow

Gravity example - debris flow
Gravity plays a crucial role in the occurrence of a debris flow, as loose debris is rapidly propelled downhill | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

When a landslide occurs, stones and other small debris start rolling down the hill. This downward movement of the debris is a clear demonstration of gravity in action. Gravity exerts a force on the stones and other small debris, causing them to move downward along the slope.

Floating paper

Gravity example - floating paper
Gravity keeping a floating piece of paper grounded | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

If a bundle of paper is tossed up into the air, the papers will separate and remain suspended for a while before eventually falling downward onto the floor. This downward motion of the papers clearly demonstrates the presence of gravity. Gravity pulls the papers towards the floor, causing them to descend from their elevated position in the air.

Stone

Gravity example - stone
Gravity pulling a small stone back down after being thrown up | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

Throwing a small stone up into the air on a beach is a clear example of gravity in action. The stone will naturally descend back towards the beach. It’s the force of gravity that pulls the stone downwards, guiding its return to the Earth’s surface.

Shower water

Gravity example - shower water
Gravity causing water to fall from a shower | Image: Stock photo, unknown source[●]

During a shower in the bathroom, the water released from the shower head can be observed gracefully falling to the floor. This phenomenon serves as a clear demonstration of the force of gravity. It is gravity that effortlessly pulls the water downwards, creating a gentle flow from the shower head to the floor.

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Image credit

  • The stock photos used in this post are sourced from platforms like Pexels, Pixabay, Canva, etc. Due to the age of the images, their specific origins remain unknown.

External links

Deep

Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

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