2007-10-11 02:46:57 · 6 answers · asked by titam 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
...because the gravitational attraction between them is much too weak! On such small scales, the strength of the molecular bonds in the two balls far outweigh the gravity between them.
Something that's the size of a billiard ball is NOT held together by gravity. It's held together by chemical bonds between its molecules!
2007-10-11 02:51:59 · answer #1 · answered by tastywheat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity is an extremely weak force, so the attraction between two relatively low-mass balls is going to be slight. The static friction between the balls and the table on which they are resting is far greater than the tiny force of gravitational attraction between them; hence, the balls won't start rolling under their own gravity.
2007-10-11 02:55:50 · answer #2 · answered by Lucas C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the gravitational attraction towards the center of the Earth is SO MUCH greater, that acts to "stick" the balls on the table
2007-10-11 02:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The larger gravitational force from the earth causes friction on the balls stopping the gravity between them moving them. For movement the balls would need to both weight a combine weight of the earth itself.
2007-10-15 02:41:40 · answer #4 · answered by BAZEBO 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other answers are true. I'll add one point. If the tabletop were frictionless (no such tabletop exists) and if the tabeltop were perfectly flat and horizontal (no such tabletop exists), then the weak gravitational attraction would bring them together. There may be other conditions -- oh yeah, one more I can think of: the balls can't have any electric charge that would make them repel.
2007-10-11 03:17:43 · answer #5 · answered by sojsail 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As surprising as this might sound, Gravity is a VERY weak force. As a comparison, think of it this way.
If you take a magnet (electromagnetic force) and use it to pick up a paper clip, you are essentially using the magnet to defeat the gravitational force of the entire Earth! Compared to the other forces (Nuclear Strong, Nuclear Weak, and Electromagnetism), gravity is extremely weak...
If you want the latest theories on why this is, check out M-Theory. It's pretty deep, but makes a great deal of sense.
2007-10-11 02:54:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋