Back to: Jss1 Basic Science (BST)

Meaning Of Gravitation

Gravity is a natural force that makes things with a mass pull toward each other. Gravity is the force that makes things fall toward the centre of the earth. Gravitational pull, or gravitational force, is the force that acts on a body from a distance, without the source and the body touching each other. 

Gravitational force

Between the earth and other bodies, there is also gravity. This is why objects which are thrown up fall back to the earth since the earth is a gravitational force field. Therefore, everything around the earth is under the force of gravity. The fruits are also falling freely due to gravity

Factors that Determine the Gravitational Force

The force of gravity is proportional to the mass of an object and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects. 

Therefore, the factors that determine the amount of gravitational force are: 

1. Mass of the Earth 

2. Mass of the object 

3. The distance between the centres of the object and the Earth 

Importance of Gravitation 

1. It causes objects with mass to fall to the ground when dropped. 

2. It assists in several phenomena observed on Earth 

3. It is responsible for keeping the Earth and the other planets in their orbits around the sun. 

4. It helps in the formation of tides 

5. It keeps the moon in its orbit around the earth

Weightlessness

When someone is in free fall, they feel like they have no weight. Even though the term “zero gravity” is often used as a synonym for “weightlessness,” weightlessness in orbit is not caused by gravity being changed or greatly reduced. Weightlessness is the feeling of being light; it does not mean having any weight. Gravity affects everything and everyone, so nothing or no one is weightless. 

Factors preventing weightlessness 

1. Standing on the ground 

2. Sitting on a chair on the ground 

3. Flying in a plane 

4. Parachuting in air 

5. Lauding a rocket into space 

Reasons for weightlessness 

When an object or person falls freely in orbit or in an aeroplane, they experience weightlessness. It also occurs whenever all forces applied to a person or object are uniformly distributed across the object’s mass.

Effect of Gravitation on Objects

1. Gravitation aids in the stability of all objects on Earth, including people.
2. Weight: The weight of an individual is a measure of the earth’s gravitational attraction to them.
3. The Earth’s gravitational pull causes the moon to be drawn toward it, allowing it to rotate around the planet.
4. The sun and all of the planets in our solar system exert gravitational pulls on one another, maintaining a mutually beneficial balance on one throughout space.
5. Lifting a thing off the ground requires exerting effort in the opposite direction as the opposing gravitational pull, therefore there is work to be done to resist the earth’s gravitational pull.

Weightlessness

When someone is in free fall, they feel like they have no weight. Even though the term “zero gravity” is often used as a synonym for “weightlessness,” weightlessness in orbit is not caused by gravity being changed or greatly reduced. Weightlessness is the feeling of being light; it does not mean having any weight. Gravity affects everything and everyone, so nothing or no one is weightless. 

Factors Preventing Weightlessness 

1. Standing on the ground 

2. Sitting on a chair on the ground 

3. Flying in a plane 

4. Parachuting in air 

5. Lauding a rocket into space 

Reasons for Weightlessness 

When an object or person falls freely in orbit or in an aeroplane, they experience weightlessness. It also occurs whenever all forces applied to a person or object are uniformly distributed across the object’s mass.

Effect of Gravitation on Objects

1. Gravitation aids in the stability of all objects on Earth, including people.
2. Weight: The weight of an individual is a measure of the earth’s gravitational attraction to them.
3. The Earth’s gravitational pull causes the moon to be drawn toward it, allowing it to rotate around the planet.
4. The sun and all of the planets in our solar system exert gravitational pulls on one another, maintaining a mutually beneficial balance on one throughout space.
5. Lifting a thing off the ground requires exerting effort in the opposite direction as the opposing gravitational pull, therefore there is work to be done to resist the earth’s gravitational pull.