Physics

Importance of Gravity

len Alfred Ajibola - Tue, 17th December, 2019 @ 1:25 PM

Topics in Physics

Derived Units: Similarities and differences with fundamental units Gravity: Facts on Gravity Relative Density of Substances and Specific Gravity Types of Heat Transfer: Conduction Types of Heat Transfer: Convection Types of Heat Transfer: Radiation Physics Scheme of Work, SS1, First Term Physics Scheme of Work, SS1, Second Term Physics Scheme of Work, SS1, Third Term Velocity and Acceleration Newton's Laws of Motion Importance of Gravity What is Density? Density of various substances Concepts of Force and Motion in Physics Motion and Speed in Physics Concept of Heat Transfer Concepts of Heat and Temperature What is gravity? Concept of gravity on the solar system Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics: Thermal Equilibrium Fundamental Quantities and Units in Physics


Academic Questions in Physics

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a fundamental quantity?

  • A. Luminous Intensity

  • B. Area

  • C. Volume

  • D. Velocity

  • E. Concentration

  • F. Acceleration

An object at rest will temporarily stay in its state of rest, and if the object is in uniform motion, it will temporarily move in a straight line, unless an external force acts upon it.

The above statement refers to Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion.

  • A. True

  • B. False

Which of the following statement is incorrect concerning gravity?

  • A. The force of gravity is generally considered the strongest force among the four forces that govern the universe

  • B. Your weight changes as you travel away from the earth

  • C. If we dig the earth until we get into its center, we will have no weight as a result of lack of gravity

  • D. Gravity prevents us from falling off the constantly rotating earth

  • E. If a hammer and a feather are dropped simultaneously in a vacuum, they will both land at the exact same time as a result of gravity

  • F. Weight is always a function of gravity

Isaac Newton Hit by Apple - Len Academy

Sir Isaac Newton was hit by an apple when he pondered on force, motion and gravity.

  • A. True

  • B. False

The movement of gaseous particles through a tiny hole is termed _____.

  • A. Osmosis

  • B. Diffusion

  • C. Effusion

  • D. Infusion

  • E. Defusion

  • F. Gaslusion

A lighted bulb transfers heat through a process termed _____.

  • A. Conduction

  • B. Convection

  • C. Radiation

  • D. Oxidation

  • E. Reduction

  • F. Electrical Induction

A measurement of how much the velocity of an object changes with time is termed _____.

  • A. Displacement

  • B. Acceleration

  • C. Speed

  • D. Momentum

  • E. Velocity-Time graph

  • F. Average velocity

Which of the following differentiates velocity from speed?

  • A. Distance

  • B. Time

  • C. Momentum

  • D. Inertia

  • E. Direction

  • F. Distance and Time



Importance of Gravity:

Let me begin by stating that without gravity, there won't be any form of life on earth.

Recall that gravity is defined as a natural force that pulls (or attracts) a body towards the center of the earth or another physical body having a larger mass (than the body being pulled).

Please read on the concept of gravity here.


Having a good understanding on the concept of gravity will aid you to easily comprehend its importance. Understand that the importance of gravity may also be considered as functions or effects of gravity.


Below are the importance, functions or effects of gravity:


1. It holds the atmosphere close to earth.

The atmosphere contains oxygen which is utilized by living organisms for respiration. It also contains carbon(IV)oxide used by plant to manufacture food through a process termed photosynthesis.

Please read on photosynthesis here.

In addition, the atmosphere protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays through its ozone layer and green house gases.

Please read on the functions of the atmosphere here.


2. The sun's gravity holds the earth in its orbit at a distance that will prevent its rays from harming all of earth's inhabitants.

The distance of the earth from the sun is 147.21 million kilometers.

Please read on the planets of the solar system and their characteristics here.

The above distance is neither too close to the sun (to prevent extreme sun rays from harming life on earth) nor too far from it (to prevent extreme cold on earth's biosphere).


3. Gravity is the reason why we have weights.

Without gravity, we would not be able to stand on earth. In fact, we will become weightless; and as a result, float in space.

You can read on the concept of mass versus weight here.


4. Without gravity, there won't be any form of movement on earth.

Means of transportation like cars, trains, ships and airplanes will not work since they will all end up floating in space.

Please read on the means and modes of transportation here.


5. The muscles of humans and animals will become wasted from a lack of gravity on earth.

This is so because movement and locomotion becomes impossible in humans and animals.

Please read on amazing facts in biology here.


6. Without gravity. The earth will have no natural satellite.

The moon is earth's natural satellite and it has got its own force of gravity.

It is the gravity on earth that keeps the moon in it's orbit around earth. This is the cause of ocean tides because the moon's gravity pulls the seas and oceans on earth towards itself.

Please read more on the solar system here.


7. Scientists are of the opinion that gravity is responsible for the formation of new planets and stars in the solar system.

Gravity is able to achieve this by pulling together the materials that forms them.

Please read on types of planets and their characteristics here.


8. The powerful effect of gravity is seen in the formation of black hole.

Think of a black hole as a region (or hole) in space formed by the strong pull of gravitational force to an extent that even light unable to escape through the hole or region.

A black hole attracts so much mass into a small volume (hole) through the powerful effects of gravity such that nothing can pass through the hole (including light). For this reason, it becomes the darkest thing in the universe.

You can read on the concept of matter here.

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Amazing facts in Physics

Elephant on cumulus cloud - Len Academy

A medium-sized cumulus cloud has a weight of about 80 adult elephants.

You can think of cumulus cloud as a detached, individual, cauliflower-shaped cloud often seen in fair weather conditions

Leaning Tower of Pisa - Len Academy

The reason the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted is the same reason it's still standing

One quarter of an apple is filled with air and that's why they float in water

Alfred Noble - Len Academy

The Nobel price was named after its founder, Alfred Noble. He is a Swedish, born on October 21, 1833; and was the inventor of dynamite. He was also a a famous scientist and a successful business man.

Glass Ball - Len Academy

Glass balls bounce higher than rubber balls

Every planet has its own unique gravitational force. For instance, Mars has a gravity of 3.711 m/s2 while earth’s gravitational force is 9.807m/s2.

When two metals are put together in space, they will stick together as if they are welded. This phenomenon is called cold welding

The fastest animal on land is cheetah. It can reach a maximum speed of about 113km per hour.


Notable points in Physics

If one covers a distance of 10,000 meters in 50 seconds and another covers the same distance in 5,000 seconds, we can conclude that the first person has a greater speed because he covered the same distance at a lesser time.

  • Speed is defined as distance travelled per unit of time. It can also be defined as the rate of change of distance.

Speed = distance/Time

Speed is a scalar quantity since it has only magnitude. Speed does not have a direction.

In physics, motion is defined as a change in the position of an object with reference to time.

Although we sometimes sit or stand in a fixed position, that doesn’t mean motion isn’t taking place. The fact that the earth is constantly rotating implies that we are indirectly moving along with it. We can thus say that motion can be relative to some frame of reference.

In the above paragraph, the earth (constantly rotating along its axis) is our frame of reference and everything present on earth is in motion (with regard to earth as a frame of reference).

Please read on the concepts of motion and speed here

Heat is a form of energy. It cannot be lost according to the first law of Thermodynamics; rather it will be transferred. The first and second laws of thermodynamics are stated below:

  • Energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be transformed or converted from one form to another.

    1st law of thermodynamics


  • In the course of energy transfer, some energy is lost in the form of heat to the surroundings.

    2nd law of Thermodynamics

Please read on the concept of heat transfer here

If we have water of 100OC  in an aluminium cup whose temperature is the same as that of its surrounding; let’s say 22OC; We will observe the followings:

  1. The temperature of water inside the aluminum cup will begin to decrease from its initial 100OC.

  2. The temperature of the aluminium cup will increase from its previous 22OC.

  3. After some time, the temperature of the water, aluminium cup and the surrounding will become the same.

From the above instance, it can be deduced that the heat present in the water molecules are first transferred to the aluminium cup and subsequently to the surrounding.

Heat from water >> Aluminium Cup >> Surrounding

Meanwhile, understand that aluminium is a metal; and metals are good conductors of heat.

Eventually, the system (water and aluminum cup) together with the surrounding reaches the same temperature; and the heat transfer ceases. It is at this point that the water, aluminium cup and the surroundings are said to have reached a thermal equilibrium.

Please on the concept of heat and temperature here

Heat is never static. It is always transferred and thus: an object will increase its temperature by gaining heat energy from its surroundings while another object will simultaneously decrease its temperature by losing its heat energy to the surroundings. For this reason, we may also define temperature as:

The measure or ability of an object or substance to transfer heat energy to another object or substance.

The higher the temperature, the greater the ability of an object or substance to transfer heat. Conversely, the lower the temperature, the greater the tendency of an object to receive the transferred heat.

The point is: 'for heat to be transferred, we must have systems or objects or substances with varying temperatures