gravity
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gravity
The fundamental force of nature that causes two or more bodies with mass to attract each other. It is responsible for objects falling to the ground and for planets orbiting the sun.
Ohne die Gravitation würden wir einfach von der Erde ins Weltall schweben.
Without gravity, we would simply float away from the Earth into space.
'Gravitation' belongs to a large group of words that end in '-tion'. These words are almost always derived from Latin and are always feminine in German (die).
Auch die Information und die Kommunikation sind feminine Nomen auf -tion.
'Information' (information) and 'Kommunikation' (communication) are also feminine nouns ending in -tion.
The word 'Gravitation' (gravity) is used mainly in scientific, technical, and very formal contexts. It belongs to the technical language of physics.
In seiner Vorlesung erklärte der Professor die Gesetze der Gravitation.
In his lecture, the professor explained the laws of gravity.
Typical expressions are 'die Gesetze der Gravitation' (the laws of gravity), 'die Gravitation überwinden' (to overcome gravity), or the description of its effect: 'Die Gravitation wirkt auf alle Objekte mit Masse' (Gravity acts on all objects with mass).
Eine Rakete muss die Gravitation der Erde überwinden, um ins All zu fliegen.
A rocket must overcome the Earth's gravity in order to fly into space.
gravity
'Schwerkraft' and 'Gravitation' mean the same physical force: bodies with mass attract each other. In everyday language, people often say 'Schwerkraft', especially when talking about something falling downward on Earth or having weight. 'Gravitation' sounds a bit more technical and fits well in school, science, or topics like planets and space. In meaning, the two words are very close, but the context determines which one sounds more natural.
Die Gravitation hält die Planeten auf ihrer Bahn um die Sonne.
Gravity keeps the planets in their orbits around the sun.
Die Kinder lernen, dass die Schwerkraft alles zur Erde zieht.
The children learn that gravity pulls everything toward the Earth.