Gravity and Things That Hold Us Up

Explain why an object can stay still while gravity acts.

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A book resting on a table has a downward gravitational force and an upward support force. When the forces balance, the book can stay at rest. Down means toward Earth, not always the bottom of a drawing.

Worked example

A hand holds a ball still by supporting it. Release it, and that support stops. Gravity was present both before and after release.

A book rests on a table. Equal-length arrows show gravity downward and table support upward. Neither force has disappeared.

Would you believe it?

Gravity does more than pull a dropped ball down. It also helps hold the air around Earth.

NASA Space Place: gravity

Question 1 Why does a resting book not fall through a firm table? The table supports it upward Gravity has stopped Books have no weight

Question 2 Which force acts downward on the book? Support from the table The book's title Gravity

Question 3 What changes when a hand releases a ball? The ball loses all mass The hand no longer supports the ball Earth disappears

Question 4 An arrow showing gravity on the far side of Earth points where? Toward Earth's center Always left Away from Earth

Question 5 A book remains still on a table. Which explanation fits? No forces exist anywhere Downward gravity is larger than support Upward support balances downward gravity

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