Gravity of Earth

What is Gravity?

Gravity is a special force that pulls everything towards the center of Earth. It is what makes things fall down when you drop them. Without gravity, we would float away into space! This force gives everything around us weight.

How Strong is Earth's Gravity?

Near the surface of Earth, gravity pulls with a strength of about 9.8 metres per second squared. This means if you drop a ball, it will speed up by about 9.8 metres every second. Scientists use a standard value of 9.80665 metres per second squared for their calculations.

Why Does Gravity Change?

The strength of Earth's gravity can change a little bit depending on where you are. Places closer to the poles, like Anchorage and Helsinki, have slightly stronger gravity. Cities near the equator, such as Kuala Lumpur, feel a tiny bit lighter because Earth spins. Gravity is also weaker on tall mountains, like Nevado Huascarán in Peru.

Gravity and Our Atmosphere

Earth's gravity helps keep our atmosphere in place. This is important for having water in our oceans and for creating weather. Gravity holds onto bigger molecules but lets very light gases, like hydrogen, escape into space. This balance helps make our planet a nice place to live.