Who Likes Gravity?

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
What type of Scientist studies Gravity and how might he/she study it
- Jeremiah Nelson (age 14)
Phoenix,AZ
A:
Jeremiah,
There are a few different types of physicists that study gravity. Most of them work with a theory called General relativity invented by Albert Einstein about 80 years ago. General relatvity says that objects bend the space around them to cause gravity. Astrophysicists study gravity a lot by looking at how stars interact with each other and by looking at really dense objects (lots of mass in a not so big amount of space) such as blackholes and neutron stars. Another type of physicist called string theorists try to improve upon general relativity and come up with a new theory of gravity. There are also physicists working on gravitational wave detectors which is device which can detect gravity interactions in space here on Earth.
Dan

(published on 10/22/2007)