Is there gravity in space?

Space

Jul 17

Your teacher shows a picture of an astronaut levitating in space. She says its because there is no gravity in space. You take a second to wonder if that's true. So you email us to find out. We levitate the answer to you and to all you readers. Is there really no gravity in space? Lets pop this balloon to find out!

What is gravity?

Gravity is a force that attracts objects together through mass. Gravity also shapes the motion of everything from a banana to planets. Every single object with mass on earth exerts gravity. The strength of the force depends on the mass of an object.

Is there no gravity in space?

No, there is gravity in space. In fact, the International Space Station is 250 miles above Earth. There the gravity is 90% active. That means of you weighed 100 pounds and went to the ISS, you would be 90 pounds. Clarified by scientists, they don't say there is no gravity, instead they say there is micro gravity in space.

Fun facts about space and gravity

Gravity comes from the Latin word gravitas, which means weight or dignity. The Kármán Line is where space begins; 62 miles above Earth. If you could drive to the sun, it would take 150 years.

Sources

NASA – "What Is Microgravity?" (Grades 5-8)

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/for-kids-and-students/what-is-microgravity-grades-5-8/

NASA – "What Is Microgravity?" (Grades K-4)

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/for-kids-and-students/what-is-microgravity-grades-k-4/

Phys.org – "Explainer: What is microgravity?"

https://phys.org/news/2016-04-microgravity.html

AstroCamp Science Camp – "Why do Astronauts Float in Space?"

https://astrocamp.org/blog/astronauts/

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force – "Freefall (Microgravity)" lesson resource

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Portals/7/Microgravity%20LP.pdf