Article Outline Newton's theory of gravitation Einstein's theory of gravitation. Predictions of general relativity. Because of gravitation, objects that are on or near the earth are pulled toward it.
Gravitation holds together the hot gases in the sun.
It keeps the planets in their orbits around the sun, and it keeps all the stars in our galaxy in their orbits about its center. The gravitational attraction that an object has for objects near it is called the force of gravity. Although the effects of gravity are easy to see, an explanation for gravitational force has puzzled people for centuries. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that heavy objects fall faster than light ones. This view was accepted for centuries.