|
|
| black hole |
a hypothetical region or body in space, possibly the remnants of a collapsed star, with such a strong gravitational pull that neither light nor matter can escape. |
| field |
in physics, an area in which a gravitational, electric, or magnetic force occurs. [1/11 definitions] |
| force of nature |
in physics, any one of the fundamental forces that occur in nature, including electromagnetic force, weak nuclear force, strong nuclear force, and gravitational force. [1/3 definitions] |
| free-fall |
the unconstrained fall of a body within a gravitational field. [1/2 definitions] |
| geotaxis |
the movement of a freely moving organism toward or against gravitational pull. |
| gravimeter |
an extremely sensitive device for measuring variations in the gravitational field of the earth or the moon. [1/2 definitions] |
| graviton |
in physics, a theoretical particle that acts as the unit of gravitational energy. |
| gravity |
gravitational attraction or movement. [1/4 definitions] |
| lunisolar |
involving the combined gravitational force of the moon and sun. |
| neutron star |
an extremely dense star, composed mostly of neutrons, with very powerful gravitational attraction. |
| nongravitational |
combined form of gravitational. |
| precession of the equinoxes |
the earlier occurrence of the equinoxes in each sidereal year because of a slow variation in the rotation of the earth, caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. |
| Roche limit |
the lowest altitude at which a natural satellite can form and orbit a planet or the like without being disturbed by gravitational forces. |
| sphere of influence |
in astronomy, the region around a celestial body within which the primary gravitational force on an orbiting object is that body. [1/3 definitions] |
| swing-by |
the use of a planet's gravitational pull to facilitate a change in flight direction during space travel. |
| syzygy |
in astronomy, the alignment, either in conjunction or opposition, of three celestial bodies within the same gravitational system, esp. the sun, moon, and earth. [1/3 definitions] |
| tide |
the periodic change, occurring about every twelve hours, in the height of the surface of oceans and nearby bodies of water, or a specific instance of this change. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. [1/6 definitions] |
|
|