TED-Ed: How far would you have to go to escape gravity? - Rene Laufer

The video explores the concept of gravity, starting with the gravitational interactions between celestial bodies like the Black Widow pulsar and its companion star. It explains how gravity is a universal force affecting all objects with mass, as described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. The video discusses how gravity varies on Earth, from sea level to Mount Everest, and extends to space, affecting astronauts in the International Space Station. It also covers the gravitational influence of distant celestial bodies like the Sun and the Andromeda Galaxy. Finally, a thought experiment is presented on escaping Earth's gravity by tunneling to its center.

What is the primary reason we don't feel the gravitational pull from every object in the universe?

• Because the gravitational force is too weak

• Due to the effects of mass and distance

• Due to the Earth's magnetic field

• Because gravity only works on large objects

According to Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, what happens to the gravitational force if the distance between two objects is doubled?

• The force becomes half as strong

• The force doubles

• The force remains the same

• The force becomes one-fourth as strong

How does gravity from Earth affect the International Space Station?

• It is only half as strong as on Earth

• It is completely negated by the station's speed

• It is almost as strong as on the Earth's surface

• It has no effect due to the distance

What would happen if you could tunnel to the center of a perfectly spherical Earth?

• You would be weightless

• You would experience no gravitational pull

• You would experience increased gravity

• You would be crushed by gravity

What is the gravitational pull between you and a smartphone a few meters away comparable to?

• The pull between you and a nearby mountain

• The pull between you and the Sun

• The pull between you and the Moon

• The pull between you and the Andromeda Galaxy