Gravitational
grav-ih-TAY-shun-ul
/ˌɡrævɪˈteɪʃənl/
Relating to gravity or gravitation; caused by or involving the force of gravity.
This adjective describes anything connected to the fundamental force that attracts any two objects with mass. It is central to understanding the structure and dynamics of the universe.
The story behind the word. The word 'gravitational' comes from the Latin root gravis, meaning 'heavy' or 'weighty.' This root gave rise to 'gravity,' the concept of weight and the force that pulls things down. When Isaac Newton formulated his law of universal gravitation, the adjective 'gravitational' naturally emerged to describe anything related to this fundamental force of attraction between masses.
Word family
- gravity (noun): The force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass.
- gravitate (verb): To move toward or be attracted to a place, person, or thing.
- gravitation (noun): The force of attraction between all masses in the universe.
Collocations
- gravitational pull
- gravitational force
- gravitational field
- gravitational waves
- gravitational lensing
Example sentences
- "The Earth's gravitational pull keeps the Moon in orbit around it." Describing a force.
- "Scientists are searching for gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity." Referring to a scientific phenomenon.
Memory hook
Think 'GRAVITY' is the force, and 'GRAVITATIONAL' describes things related to that force. Gravity Related
When not to use
Do not use 'gravitational' to mean simply 'heavy' or 'weighty' in a non-scientific context. It specifically refers to the force of gravity, not just the property of having weight.
Fun facts
- Gravitational lensing, where massive objects bend light, is a key tool for studying distant galaxies and dark matter.
- The detection of gravitational waves in 2015 confirmed a major prediction of Einstein's theory of relativity.
Related words
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