Man, that’s heavy
What a levy
On the brain… gain.
[Verse 1]
Is the gravity underground
Holding me down
I’d sure like to know
Where it’s found
[Bridge]
Guess I’ll take a look around
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]
[Chorus]
This topic is heavy
Levity in brevity
Breaks the levy
The force sets the course
[Bridge]
Of course,
Whose mass will pass?
Sing: Wild thing
You move me
Gravity
[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Bass]
[Verse 2]
Is the gravity within me?
It’s just so hard to see
But it’s holding me down
From flying unbound
[Bridge]
Guess I’ll look at my insides
To see where it resides
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]
[Chorus]
This topic is heavy
Levity in brevity
Breaks the levy
The force sets the course
[Bridge]
Of course,
Whose mass will pass?
Sing: Wild thing
You move me
Gravity
[Instrumental, Piano, Bass]
The force sets the course
A SCIENCE NOTE
Gravity acts on all objects, regardless of whether they are on the surface of the Earth, above it, or underground. The gravitational force that you feel pulling you down is primarily due to the mass of the Earth beneath your feet. Here’s a detailed explanation of how gravity works in this context:
Gravity on the Earth’s Surface
- Source of Gravity: Gravity is the force that attracts objects toward the center of the Earth. This force is due to the mass of the Earth. According to Newton’s law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two masses is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
- Feeling of Weight: The force of gravity acting on your body gives you weight. This force pulls you toward the center of the Earth, and the ground provides an equal and opposite force (normal force) that prevents you from falling through it.
Gravity Underground
- Gravitational Force Below the Surface:
- Inside a Uniform Sphere: If you were inside a uniform sphere (a simplification of the Earth), the gravitational force you feel would be proportional to your distance from the center of the sphere. This means that as you go deeper underground, the gravitational force would decrease linearly with depth.
- Real Earth Conditions: The Earth is not a uniform sphere; its density varies with depth. However, the principle remains that the gravitational force inside the Earth is due to the mass of the Earth that is at a greater depth than your position. The gravitational force decreases as you go deeper because less mass is beneath you to exert a downward pull.
- Net Gravitational Force: When underground, the net gravitational force acting on you is still directed toward the center of the Earth. The mass above you exerts an upward pull, but it is less than the downward pull from the mass beneath you.
Summary
- Surface Gravity: The gravity you feel on the surface is due to the entire mass of the Earth pulling you toward its center.
- Underground Gravity: As you go underground, the gravitational force decreases because the amount of mass beneath you decreases. However, gravity still acts to pull you toward the center of the Earth.
- Normal Force: Whether on the surface or underground, the ground provides a normal force that balances the gravitational force, preventing you from falling.
In conclusion, gravity is not specifically “holding you down” from underground, but rather, it is the Earth’s mass as a whole that exerts a gravitational force on you, keeping you grounded. The concept of gravity applies universally, and the force is always directed toward the center of the Earth, regardless of whether you are on the surface or below it.
Is there gravity in me?
Yes, there is gravity within you! All objects with mass exert a gravitational force, and this includes every part of your body. Here’s a detailed explanation of how gravity works within you:
Gravitational Force and Mass
- Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation: This law states that every point mass attracts every other point mass by a force acting along the line intersecting both points. The formula for this gravitational force (FF) between two masses (m1m1 and m2m2) separated by a distance (rr) is:
F=Gm1m2r2F=Gr2m1m2
where GG is the gravitational constant.
- Gravitational Force Within Your Body: Every part of your body has mass, and thus every part exerts a gravitational force on every other part. For example, your head exerts a gravitational pull on your feet, and your feet exert a gravitational pull on your head.
Magnitude of Internal Gravitational Forces
- Very Small Forces: The gravitational forces within your body are incredibly small because the masses involved (the mass of your body parts) and the distances (within the scale of a human body) are relatively tiny compared to the mass and distance scales where gravitational forces are typically noticeable, such as those involving planets and stars.
- Example Calculation: To give you a sense of scale, consider two parts of your body, each weighing 1 kilogram and separated by 1 meter. The gravitational force between them would be calculated as follows:
F=G(1 kg)(1 kg)(1 m)2F=G(1m)2(1kg)(1kg)
Given G≈6.674×10−11 N m2/kg2G≈6.674×10−11N m2/kg2, the force FF would be:
F≈6.674×10−11 NF≈6.674×10−11N
This force is extremely small and negligible in everyday life.
Importance of Internal Gravitational Forces
- Insignificance in Biological Context: The gravitational forces within your body are far weaker than other forces at play, such as the electromagnetic forces that hold your cells and molecules together. These internal gravitational forces do not play a significant role in the biological or mechanical functions of your body.
- Overall Gravity Experience: The dominant gravitational force you experience is from the Earth’s gravity, which pulls you toward its center with a force that gives you weight. The gravitational interactions within your body are insignificant compared to this.
Summary
- Gravity in You: Yes, every part of your body exerts gravitational forces on every other part.
- Magnitude: These forces are extremely small and negligible compared to other forces within your body.
- Dominant Force: The gravitational force you notice and experience in daily life is primarily due to the Earth’s gravity, not the internal gravitational forces within your body.
In conclusion, while gravitational forces exist between all masses, including the parts of your body, they are so small that they do not have any noticeable impact on your daily life or biological functions. The primary gravitational force you feel is from the Earth itself.
From the album “Days” by Daniel