Gravitation

Weighty academic tome

Gravitation is the force by which objects with mass attract one another.

It keeps planets in orbit around stars and holds galaxies together.

The term is nearly interchangeable with gravity, though gravitation often emphasizes the mutual attraction between bodies while gravity focuses on the pull toward a specific mass like Earth: Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitation between celestial bodies.

physics

force

Strength or compulsion

Einstein · acceleration · orbit · spacetime · curvature · field · universal · constant · weight · free-fall

metaphorical

pull

Force toward oneself

influence · allure · center · tendency · inclination · drift · compulsion · affinity · momentum · convergence

celestial

orbit

Curved celestial path

  • planetsStar-orbiting celestial bodies
  • moonsBodies orbiting planets
  • starsLuminous celestial bodies

solar system · ellipse · Kepler · tides · satellites · comets · asteroids · binary stars · black holes · accretion

Opposites
physical force direction

Gravitationrepulsion

Disgust or pushing-away force

antigravity · levitation · dark energy · centrifugal force · buoyancy

fundamental forces

Gravitationelectromagnetism

Force linking charge and magnetism

electromagnetic force · strong nuclear force

metaphorical attraction/dispersion

Gravitationdispersion

Scattering across space

repulsion · scattering · diffusion · dissipation · divergence

Phrases
Family

gravitating, gravitational, gravitationally

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G