How does gravity work in space?

Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that causes all matter to be attracted to each other. The force of gravity is proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the distance between them. This means that objects with larger masses have a stronger gravitational force between them, while the force of gravity decreases as the distance between them increases.

In space, gravity works in the same way as it does on Earth, but there are some key differences. In the absence of other forces, gravity causes objects to move in a straight line towards each other. This is why planets and other celestial bodies are pulled towards each other and form into orbiting systems. However, since space is mostly empty, the gravitational forces between objects in space are much weaker than those on Earth.

Gravity also affects the motion of objects in space. For example, the gravitational force of the Moon causes tides on Earth, and the gravitational forces of the planets in our solar system keep their moons in orbit around them. Additionally, the gravitational forces between stars and galaxies are what hold them together.

One interesting phenomenon of gravity in space is that it can cause the bending of light. This is known as gravitational lensing, and it occurs when the gravitational field of a massive object, such as a galaxy or a black hole, bends the path of light passing nearby.