---
title: "Gravity Pulls Things Down"
description: "Understand gravity as a force that pulls objects towards the centre of the Earth, that 'down' means towards Earth’s centre regardless of where you stand on the sphere, and that gravity keeps the Moon "
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/gravity-pulls-things-down-mt_Y2WcY2lOTK
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/gravity-pulls-things-down-mt_Y2WcY2lOTK.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Gravity Pulls Things Down

Understand gravity as a force that pulls objects towards the centre of the Earth, that 'down' means towards Earth’s centre regardless of where you stand on the sphere, and that gravity keeps the Moon orbiting Earth and planets orbiting the Sun

Subject: Science · Area: Space Exploration · Ages 9 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/gravity-pulls-things-down-mt_Y2WcY2lOTK

## Ready when they can

- Define gravity as a pulling force that attracts objects towards the centre of the Earth
- Explain that 'down' points towards Earth's centre, so people on opposite sides of the globe both feel pulled 'down'
- State that gravity keeps the Moon orbiting Earth and planets orbiting the Sun

## Lesson: Gravity Pulls Things Down

Gravity is a pulling force. It pulls every object toward the center of the Earth, all the time, even though you cannot see it or hear it working.

*(drawing: Picture Earth as a ball. No matter where you stand on its surface, gravity pulls you toward the middle of that ball. That pull is what 'down' means.)*

**Example.** Leo lives in Canada. His pen pal Ana lives in Australia, on the opposite side of the world. When Leo drops a ball, it falls down toward Earth's center. When Ana drops a ball, hers falls down toward Earth's center too, even though she is standing on what looks like the 'other side' of the globe. Both of them feel 'down' the same way, because gravity always points toward the middle of the Earth.

**Tip.** Gravity does more than pull things down. It also keeps the Moon circling around Earth, and keeps every planet, including Earth, circling around the Sun. The same force that drops an apple keeps whole worlds moving in their paths.

**Recap.** Gravity pulls everything toward Earth's center, so down always means toward that center, and this is the same pull that keeps the Moon circling Earth and the planets circling the Sun.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [The Moon's Orbit](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-moons-orbit-mt_15FduGRf5c)
- [The solar system](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-solar-system-mt_5l7iGkf1Tp)
- [Earth's Spin & Orbit](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/earths-spin-and-orbit-mt_w2xiMNkyyX)

## Opens up

- [Orbital Mechanics](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/orbital-mechanics-mt_1nl396BaVa)