Gravity affects objects on Earth by pulling them downward toward the planet's center with a force proportional to their mass. This force causes objects to have weight and dictates how they move, such as making things fall when dropped or thrown

. Key effects of gravity on objects on Earth include:

• Downward Pull: Gravity constantly pulls objects toward Earth's center, giving them weight and causing them to accelerate downward at about 9.8 m/s² (meters per second squared) near the surface, ignoring air resistance

• Motion Influence: Gravity causes objects to accelerate as they fall, so heavier objects have a stronger gravitational pull but all objects accelerate at the same rate in free fall regardless of their mass

• Variation by Location: Gravity varies slightly depending on where you are on Earth due to factors like Earth's rotation and its equatorial bulge. Gravity is slightly weaker at the equator and stronger at the poles, affecting the exact weight of objects

• Tides and Orbits: Earth's gravity also interacts with the Moon's gravity, causing ocean tides and keeping the Moon in orbit around Earth

• Effect on Sea Level: Variations in gravity influence mean sea level, which geodesists measure to understand Earth's surface elevation more accurately

In summary, gravity is the fundamental force that keeps objects anchored to Earth, governs their motion, and influences natural phenomena like tides and sea levels