Explanation of the Influence of Gravity in the Universe - Succeed in Physical Science. Also refer to physics, astronomy, Big Bang, formation, nucleosynthesis, elements, molecules, sun, star, planet, moon, binary star, collision, orbit, inertia, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Influence of Gravity in the Universe
by Ron Kurtus (27 August 2007)
The force of gravity, which is the attraction matter has with itself, was influential in the formation of the elements after the Big Bang or however the Universe began. This force of attraction also caused the formation of stars, planets and other objects in space. Finally, gravity is what holds the planets in motion around the Sun, as well as the Sun in motion around the galaxy.
Questions you may have include:
- How were the elements formed?
- What role did gravity have in the formation of the stars?
- How are the planets kept in orbit?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Useful tools: Metric-English Conversion | Scientific Calculator.
Formation of elements
Assuming the Universe started with the Big Bang or great explosion, there was an expanding "soup" of subatomic particles formed. With the tremendous heat or energy and the proximity of the particles, their gravitational attraction was one factor in bringing them together to the point where nuclear forces took over. This effect is called nucleosynthesis, which means the creation or synthesis of nuclei. The materials clumped together, forming atoms and the elements. Some elements were attracted to each other by gravitational forces and electrical attraction to form molecules.
Of course, this is all speculative. We don't really know for sure if there was a Big Bang or if this is what really happened. But this theory gives a good explanation and shows the effect of gravity on the formation of the elements.
Formation of the stars
Likewise, this swirling mass of material started to clump together due to the attraction of gravity. Once there was a small amount of matter clumped together, it would attract more and more of the swirling matter to it. Large collections of matter became stars or suns. Because of the huge amount of matter in a star, most never cooled off. Thermonuclear reactions have kept the stars at extremely high temperature over the eons.
Smaller collections of matter cooled off and became solid spheres. These are the planets, moons and asteroids.
Keeping in orbit
Besides causing quantities of matter to gather together to form suns, planets, moons and other space objects, gravity also caused these moving bodies to go into orbit around each other.
If the paths of two speeding objects in space intersect, they will collide. The craters you can see on the surface of the Moon are from objects smashing into it. On a larger scale, suns have even collided. But if their paths of motion simply go near each other, and if the masses, distances and velocities are just right, the smaller object can go into orbit around the larger object. In some cases where the objects are close to the same size, they can rotate around each other. Astronomers have seen a number or double or binary stars that are in orbit around each other.
Gravity keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth. Since the Law of Inertia states that objects in motion tend to go in a straight line, the force of gravity from the Earth on the Moon prevents it from continuing in a straight path. It is somewhat like the effect of a string on a weight that you swing around you. Once you let go, the weight no longer goes in a circular path but instead flies out away from you. Likewise, the Earth and other planets are in orbit around the Sun, and the Sun is in orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
Summary
The force of gravity was influential in the formation of the elements after the Universe began. This force of attraction also caused the formation of stars, planets and other objects in space. Finally, gravity is what holds the planets in orbit around the Sun, as well as the Sun around the Milky Way galaxy.
Look to the stars
Resources
The following resources provide information on this subject:
Websites
Books
Top-rated books on Simple Gravity Science
Top-rated books on Advanced Gravity Physics
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
1. What role did gravity have in the creation of elements?
2. How did suns get so big?
3. How can space satellites go in orbit around the Earth?
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Physical Science. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Influence of Gravity in the Universe