I recently read that gravity is the weakestforce in the universe in Neil Degrasse Tyson's book " just visiting this planet" .
That astounded me ! I thought it was the strongest !! So if that's not the strongest force what is?
Is there a scale of forces?
wow astronomy is so awesome!
2007-07-25 12:46:48 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
in linda's answer .. what does 10^38 mean ??
2007-07-25 17:17:45 · update #1
Gravity appears so strong because its the most obvious in our lives.
The other forces (nuclear strong, weak, and electromagnetic) are only felt at the atomic level, and fall off rapidly with distance. While gravity is the weakest force in small units, it is felt at unlimited distances and is only one way (attractive). The electromagnetic force for example is felt at unlimited distances, but it can be attractive (when the particles involved have opposite charges) or repulsive (when the particles involved have the same charge). So any large object tends to be neutrally charged (about equal positive and negative charges on it).
The 4 forces are really part of physics, not specifically astronomy. They are:
Nuclear strong force - relative strength is 10^38
Electromagnetic force - relative strength is 10^36
Nuclear weak force - relative strength is 10^25
Gravity - relative strength is 1
2007-07-25 13:40:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are 4 fundamental forces. They are, in order from weakest to strongest:
Gravitational force
Weak nuclear force, 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that is 25 zeroes but yahoo won't show them all) times stronger than gravity
Electromagnetic force (100,000,000,000 times stronger than the weak force)
Strong nuclear force. (100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force)
It is the other forces that hold atoms and molecules together and keep gravity from pulling all your atoms to the center of the Earth like so much sand sinking in water.
2007-07-25 13:26:46 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The stress of gravity is inversely proportional to the gap squared, simply by fact that distance is doubled the stress is one million/4 one million/2^2 = one million/4 stress is G*M1*M2/r^2 = ((6.sixty seven x 10^-eleven)(2 x 10^4)^2)/2^2 = 6.sixty seven x 10^-3 N Kepler's 0.33 regulation p^2 = a^3, the place p is the era in years and a is the gap in AU p^2 =4^3 = sixty 4 so the era p is 8.0 years
2016-11-10 07:45:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity is so weak, that even with the whole Earth pulling down on it, you can pick up a ball. That's because the Earth is using gravity, and you are using electrical forces (they hold the molecules in your hand together).
2007-07-25 13:21:53 · answer #4 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Visit the following site.
It's got "simple" stuff. It's got "complicated" and lots in between. Episodes in 5 to 10 minute increments. Enjoy, girl. Sink your teeth into it.
2007-07-25 12:52:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was going to answer with information I had learned from that nova special on PBS. I think Nrao Kid said it best.
It's a great show. Take your time when you watch it, you will absorb some great concepts
2007-07-25 12:57:52 · answer #6 · answered by Gwenilynd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋