The gravitational pull of the planets is visualized

Gravity is one of the fundamental forces in the universe without which life as we know it was impossible.

The gravity of the sun holds all the planets in orbit in our solar system. However, every planet, natural satellite, and asteroid have their own gravitational pull determined by their size, mass, and density.

Dr. James O'Donoghue, a Planetary Astronomer at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, built an animation that clarifies this concept by visualizing the time it takes a ball to drop from one kilometer to the surface of various planets and the Earth's moon, assuming no air impedance.

Interestingly, some giant planets have a pull comparable to smaller ones at the surface; for instance, Uranus pulls the ball down slower than Earth. That is happening because the low average density of Uranus puts the surface far away from the majority of the mass (hence the more minor pull). Likewise, Mars has a mass almost twice Mercury, but you can observe the surface gravity is the equivalent. It suggests that Mercury is much denser than Mars.

Jupiter has the strongest gravitational field among all planets of our Solar System. The animation created by Reddit user AristonD clearly illustrates how Jupiter protects our planet from asteroids.

I think that if it were not for Jupiter, the probability of asteroids like the one that fell on our planet 66 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs would be much higher.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Comments

Find cities with similar climate

This map has been created using The Global environmental stratification. The Global environmental stratification (GEnS), based on statistical clustering of bioclimate data (WorldClim). GEnS, consists of 125 strata, which have been aggregated into 18 global environmental zones (labeled A to R) based on the dendrogram. Interactive map >> Via www.vividmaps.com Related posts: - Find cities with similar climate 2050 - How global warming will impact 6000+ cities around the world?

Mapping the Hottest Temperatures Ever Recorded on Earth

When summer arrives, it brings not only vacation season but also some of the most extreme heat waves across the globe. While many people associate summer with warm, sunny days, some regions endure scorching temperatures that push the limits of human endurance. To put these extremes into perspective, we’ve mapped the highest temperatures ever recorded in countries around the world. The maps below, created by Vivid Maps , illustrate these record-breaking temperatures and the patterns of extreme heat across the globe. The Hottest Temperature on Record According to historical weather data, the highest reliably recorded temperature on Earth is 56.7°C (134°F) , measured in Death Valley, California , on July 10, 1913 . However, an even higher temperature of 58°C (136.4°F) was reportedly recorded in El Azizia, Libya , on September 13, 1922 . While this Libyan record stood for decades, some meteorologists have questioned its accuracy due to inconsistencies in measurement methods at the ti...

How Cold Can It Get? The Lowest Temperatures Ever Recorded, Mapped

We often talk about record heat , especially in the context of climate change. But on the flip side, our planet also experiences cold so extreme it defies belief—temperatures that can flash-freeze exposed skin and halt life as we know it. These are not just numbers on thermometers; they’re snapshots of how Earth's atmosphere behaves under specific conditions—altitude, wind patterns, and location far from the moderating effects of oceans. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth? That title goes to Vostok Station in Antarctica, where scientists measured a bone-cracking −89.2°C (−128.6°F) on July 21, 1983. Located on the East Antarctic Plateau, Vostok is more than 1,000 kilometers from the South Pole and sits atop about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) of ice. It’s isolated, dry, and high—three ingredients that make for perfect deep freeze conditions. The world map below created by VividMaps shows the lowest temperature ever recorded by country. The Coldest Inhabited Place on Earth...

Ecoclimax

Search This Blog