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GCSE Physics · key term
The attractive force between objects with mass; it pulls the material in a nebula inwards.
Used by AQA and Edexcel
Specification 4.8.1.1 · Paper 2
Revise: Our solar systemGravity gradually pulled the dust and gas closer together. As more material collected, the central region became more massive and its gravitational attraction increased, drawing in still more material. The cloud therefore contracted rather than remaining spread out.
Specification 7.5P, 7.17P · Paper 1
An attractive force between objects with mass; it pulls an orbiting body towards the body it orbits.
Revise: OrbitsAn orbiting object is moving forwards, but gravity pulls it towards the body it orbits. Its path therefore curves instead of continuing in a straight line. The body that completes an orbit can be a planet, a moon or a human-made spacecraft.
The inward pulling force between masses; in a star, it tends to compress the stellar material towards the centre.
For an explanation of star formation, give the linked sequence: gravity draws dust and gas together → the material becomes hotter and denser → fusion begins.
Do not say that fusion and gravity stop. In a stable star, inward gravitational collapse is balanced by outward expansion due to energy from fusion.
When explaining a stage, name both competing effects: gravity acts inwards, while the pressure associated with hot stellar material acts outwards.
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