• Question: is there a force stronger than gravity?

    Asked by bandd to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 22 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      Hi bandd,
      That’s a tough question and I’m not really sure of the answer. Gravity is strong and acts over a huge area. Other forces are probably as strong if not stronger, but just doesnt work over such a wide area.
      Maybe Charlie will know!

      Eoin

    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      I’m not a physicist, but I thought that gravity is a weak force on comparison with others such as the forces within the nucleus of atoms…? This might be a question for Charlie.

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      Hi Bandd

      I’m no physicist but I always thought gravity was a really weak force. After all, even a baby can pick up a ball, and in doing so overcome the gravitational force of the entire planet! I expect there must be many forces more powerful.

    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 22 Mar 2011:

      hi bannd again!!
      Well there are four fundamental forces found by physicists (and this does seem to be it for fundamental forces, altho you can never be sure!!).
      1. gravity.
      2. the electromagnetic force. This explains the force between oppositely charged species, and also light.
      3. The strong nuclear force. This (as the name suggests!) is the force that holds the nucleus of the atom together. In the nuclei of the atom are a lot of positive protons. What holds these together and stops them repelling each other?? The strong force!!
      4. The weak nuclear force. This expalins the decay of particles over time. Bit of a weird one really!

      And i’m pretty sure, that out of these 4, gravity is by far the weakest!!! I think by many thousands of times!!

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