Gravity and Microgravity

One-Minute Physics!

What is Gravity?

• An invisible force that pulls objects in the universe towards one another

What is Gravity?

• Isaac Newton first determined the properties of gravity

• Albert Einstein discovered why there is gravity

OBJECTS with MASS cause SPACE to become WARPED.

"Hey Marge. Look, Einstein was right!" - Homer Simpson

What is Gravity?

• Holds everything on Earth• Keeps the moon circling the Earth– Alice and Bob video

What is Gravity?

• Holds the Earth and the other planets around the Sun

What is Gravity?

• It takes a lot of energy to escape Earth’s gravitational pull!

Microgravity (aka weightlessness)

• Force of gravity is present, but there is no real ‘sensation’ or feeling of weight

• Occurs when an object or a person is falling freely

Microgravity (aka weightlessness)

• Examples on Earth:– Bungee jumping– Vomit comet– Elevator

Microgravity (aka weightlessness)

• On a spacecraft, it occurs because the spacecraft is continually falling toward Earth at the same time as it is zooming forward (the spacecraft is in free fall)

Microgravity (aka weightlessness)

• Effects on humans:– Dizziness– Puffy face and skinny legs– Bone and Muscle loss