Thursday, March 30, 2017

How is gravity the weakest fundamental force?

Gravity is pathetically weak. If you drop an iron nail on the floor, you can pick it up with a small bar magnet from a child's toy. In doing so a titanic battle takes place. On the one side we have the entire mass of the Earth (which is quite big compared with the nail or the magnet or you). All of its mass is sucking on the nail trying to stop you from picking it up. On the other side you have the flimsy magnet that probably weighs not much more than the nail.

Which wins? The magnet. The electromagnetic force overcomes the gravitational force generated by the entire mass of the Earth.

I still wouldn't jump out of a window, though.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Mathematics: What is the most beautiful theorem proof, and why?

I am sure that there are some out there that would say that this does not constitute a proof, but I have always found this to be a beautifu...