Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hi,

What's the difference between "gravity" and "gravitation"? I have hear of "gravity" as 'the force that make things fall to the groung'. Is "gravitation a variation of "gravity"? Can they be used interchangeably?

Thanks,

Nawee

[Kristea]

What a great question.

Both are nouns, so you would think they are interchangable. But they are not.

Gravity deals with the earth's pull on objects. More spicific than gravitation which deals with the attraction of any object to another.

Vague, I fear. But you are safe using gravity with the earth and gravition with everything else I think.

The earth's gravity forces rain to fall down, assuming the wind isn't too bad.

Gravitation is non-existent in a black hole.

Does that make sense?

= Kristea
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[nawee]

Thank you so much, Kristea. Your answer is most helpful. (",)