How come the force of gravity is so small?

Question

The earth is massive and should acording 2 einstein curve the space around it so how come a magnet can pull a pin up from the earths surface. gravity surely should be the stronger force why is it so small?

Answer 1

There are 4 fundamental forces in the universe,
-Gravity
-weak Nuclear
-Electromagnetic
-strong Nuclear

Gravity is the weakest of the 4 fundamental forces. The electroMAGNETIC force is many orders of magnitude stronger than gravity.

The force of gravity is described by Newton's Law of Universal gravitational,
F_g = (G * M * m) / r^2
where F_g is the force of gravity, M and m are the masses of two objects being pulled together by gravity, r is the radial distance between the two object's centers of mass, and G is the universal gravitational constant.
G = 6.67 E-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2

Similarly, there is a formula to describe the attractive/repulsive force of electromagnetism,
F_e = (k * q * Q) / r^2
F_m = qvB

Gravity is exceedingly weak compared to electromagnetism.
However, both forces can act over an infinite distance, not true of the other two fundamental forces.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/forces/funfor.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/magfor.html


EDIT:
In responce to "Veritas", who shows no signs of knowing what he is talking about,
There is NO such thing as "centrifugal" force....it is centripetal force,
F_c = m (v^2 / r)
Centripetal force is directed towards the center of rotation...inward, not outward.

Answer 2

To clarify all this, Gravity is the weakest of all forces all distances aside. If we keep the same distance for each force Gravity will come in last. The reason why it is so small is still actually unknown. The bits of string theory that have been discussed have to be put in context. The point of string theory is to find a truly unified theory in which there are no longer 4 different forces but 1 single force. We have already found that at High energy levels the EM force and the weak nuclear bond to become a single force. There is also strong evidence that the EM & Weak combination may bond with the Strong nuclear force. However, physicists can't currently see how gravity fits into all of tis. They are hoping that at extremely high energy levels Gravity will unite will the 3 others and become the hoped for Master Force. Gravity is definitely the black sheep of the bunch. So the question you ask is very pertinent, however, unresolved.

Answer 3

The potential force of gravity is significantly reduced by the counteracting effect of centrifugal force occasioned by the spinning of the earth. If the earth did not spin we would all be crushed by the force of gravity. I don't think that magnetism and gravity can be directly compared, you would have to study Newton. I know that the force is relative to the size of the objects and there distance from each other. A magnet would have a powerful affect on a small object (containing certain metals) because of the relatively large size of the magnet and it's close proximity to the object. It would also be assisted by centrifugal force. Also, it has a north south affect. The earth attracts all objects, including non metallic ones. If your pin weighed 100kilos, would you arrive at the same conclusion regarding strength of attraction?

Answer 4

What a Superb Question !! but the fact is
'Gravity' actually is the tiniest force in the Four Fundamental forces of Nature.
Why?
Still reaserchers are holding out. One theory is that the Earths Structure itself -
i.e Earths gravity force essentially comes from the Rotating 'Mantle' (melted iron just below the Earths crust). Thus although earth is big in size the force generated so is just equalling (Well almost!!) the Centrifugal force generated by the Motion of the earth itself. Hence The Shortfall (or deficit balance of G-CF) is small really very small.

Answer 5

Who told u that gravity is strongest force in the nature??
As far as i know it is the weakest force, but a force which acts over a long distances,
the main forces are
1)Gravitational force ,
2)Electromagnetic force,
3)Strong nuclear force and
4)Weak nuclear force

From these four the gravitational force is long range force ,and the others are short range forces, and the other forces are much greater than gravity but they act in short distances, that is the reason why a pin is pulled towards a magnet on earth's surface and still it cant pull a planet towards it self ,because it acts short in distance.

Answer 6

Well I can't begin to explain why exactly the force of gravity is weak but I am extremely glad that it is. To explain it fully would require a bit more knowledge than I ahve atm hehe maybe in a year or two :P

Electrostatic forces and magnetic forces are indeed much greater than gravity but fortunately for us they have problems such as electrostatic forces have positive and negative charges so the cancel each other out in the large scale picture.

Gravity however as no such problem it is always additive and is the reason why it is resposible for all the major workings of the universe

Answer 7

Its actually just the opposite. Gravity is huge. The only reason you can't fathom the force of gravity is bc as a human being we are too small to see its effects. Gravity is the innerworkings of our solar system and universe. Its forces work on such a great scale that it almost seems no existant to us as little specles on this planet. There are other type of forces that work at smaller scales which is why a magner is able to pull a pin.

Answer 8

to analyze forces, you should analyze like with like. So once you're saying: a magnet lifts an iron filing (say) you're comparing the magnetic stress between the *magnet* and the filing, with the gravitational pull of the *Earth* to the filing: proper should be to analyze it with the gravitational pull of the *magnet* to the filing, that's certainly very small (yet not 0: all issues gravitate). At a extra uncomplicated element, you should ask: take 2 protons, or 2 electrons: those sense an electric powered stress because of their expenses and a gravitational charm because of their thousands. the electric powered stress is about 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000... (provide or take some zeroes) higher than the corresponding gravitational pull. So certain, gravity is weak. yet then, electromagnetic forces in common words act between charged debris, and oppositely charged debris entice. So effortless large length bodies comprise very just about as a lot constructive as unfavorable cost, and are unaffected with the help of electric powered or magnetic forces (the following i ought to disagree with the gentleman who meant that the Martian magnetic container ought to carry an surroundings. in common words gravity ought to, as air isn't charged and, opposite to iron, not magnetic). so as bodies grow to be higher, gravity takes over and electromagnetic forces lessen. There are also 2 different forces. those, notwithstanding, act in common words over very short distances, so the above comments carry for them once 2 gadgets are any distance in any respect aside. Electromagnetic forces and gravity both decay further with distance, in an attempt to legitimately analyze them: both electrons i replaced into stating should be a backyard or a mile aside: the ratio between gravity and electric powered stress ought to continually stay an same.

Answer 9

Gravity Is The Weakest Of all Nuclear Forces

Answer 10

It's called string theory. It proposes that all matter is made up of tiny, vibrating, one-demisonal Strings. String theory proposes a world made up of 11 demisions. There are two differant types of strings: Those that are attached to a brane (A Multi-Demisonal String streched out into a type of bubble, which scientist theorize that the universe exists on), and those that are not. Gravity's carrier particle; the Graviton, is simply a string that is not attached to a brane, and therefore can move freely between deminsions. Thus weaking its strength in our own.