week #4 Four Forces & Gravity

COMPARING THE FOUR FORCES

Although physicists find four "interactions": Strong nuclear force, electomagnetic force, weak nuclear force, and gravity, it seems that the first three are more linked together while gravity is not as strong of a force. The article "the Four Forces" explains that the three forces "are manifestations of a single, more fundamental, interaction." As the math is confusing to me, I understand that within an atom, there are these forces that dictate the behavior of its matter/mass. I like to think about the fact that when we study physics, we are in effect trying to understand how the universe works. But when we get down to it, we are still trying to grasp how the smallest of things work, and it is so hard to grasp the power of these forces as they affect things as small as a raindrop or as large as a star.

It is comforting to think about the human body encompassing these forces as we are propelled by them in our existance. When we think about becoming "energy doctors" it makes more sense to think about all the energies that are streaming within the body, and how the insersion of a needle, the function on one plant can play a huge part of the shifting in these energies.

When Einstein was asked about the existence of God, he commented on the fact that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed. He left us to ponder how it was created. I prefer to ponder on how it can be altered for improved health and well-being.



GRAVITY

As a kid I remember learning that gravity is the force that pulls us to the center of the earth and I feared falling into holes because I was scared that I would get sucked into the crust of the earth. My brother liked to remind me of this "fact". I was relieved to learn in middle school that gravity "was not that strong" and its force only held us to the ground. I find that ironic as we now learn of the four forces, gravity "is not that strong" compared to the other three. I guess the kid in me gets it. It is also ironic that gravity as a word is often used to describe something of alarming importance, which means it has much weight associted with it.

I think gravity holds us "down" but it also pushes and pulls us toward things around us. I "gravitate" towards people that are funny and kind. I "gravitate" towards warmth. I also take gravity for granted, and even curse it when I fall off my bike. But I know it is a good thing, as without it I would not have any muscles to even ride my bike. So thank you gravity, even if you are the weakest of the four forces.