[jimithy (OP)]

 Does the gravity that keeps us on the surface a force that pushes us down rather than pulls us down?

[charles1948]

Does the gravity that keeps us on the surface a force that pushes us down rather than pulls us down?

This is a good question.  The Earth is surrounded by the entire mass of the external Universe.  Which contains billions of galaxies. Each of which contains billions of stars.

The combined mass of all this matter, within the Universe,  might well exert a "pushing" effect. 

Like how the combined mass of the matter within a steam-engine, exerts a "pushing" effect on the piston?

[evan_au]

The Earth is surrounded by the entire mass of the external Universe.

That is true.

But that mass is distributed in all directions, so pretty much cancels itself out.
- If there were a slight imbalance of mass in our part of the universe (slightly more mass to the left compared to the right, for example), then it will pull slightly more on you and the Earth (and the Sun, and the Milky Way galaxy), and they will all accelerate slightly in that direction. So this will exert no force between you and the Earth that you could feel.

The gravity that we feel is the effect of the atoms of our bodies being attracted towards the center of the Earth, and the atoms of the Earth resisting the tendency of our feet (or our seat) to get closer to the center of the Earth.
- With sensitive instruments (or a big ocean) you can also detect the tidal effects of the Moon (because it is relatively close) and the Sun (because it is relatively big)
- With our most sensitive instrument LIGO (and similar devices), you can (just) detect the gravitational influence of merging black holes and neutron stars at large distances
- The gravitational effects of everything else is too small to measure, even with our most sensitive instruments

Einstein recast all this in terms of distortion of spacetime, but Newton's understanding of gravity is enough to describe anything humans can sense directly.

[Kryptid]

The combined mass of all this matter, within the Universe,  might well exert a "pushing" effect. 

If that was the case, then the force of gravity we experience wouldn't be dependent upon the mass of the Earth.

[charles1948]

The combined mass of all this matter, within the Universe,  might well exert a "pushing" effect.

If that was the case, then the force of gravity we experience wouldn't be dependent upon the mass of the Earth.

A good point.  But the mass of the Earth might "push back" a bit against the Universal inward push.  Which would account for why the Earth remains stable.  Instead of being instantly crushed into a Black Hole.

[Kryptid]

But the mass of the Earth might "push back" a bit against the Universal inward push. 

If that was the case, then objects with more mass would push back more, thus resulting in the opposite of what we actually observe.

Which would account for why the Earth remains stable.  Instead of being instantly crushed into a Black Hole.

Quantum physics is why objects are stable against gravitational collapse.

[charles1948]

But the mass of the Earth might "push back" a bit against the Universal inward push.

If that was the case, then objects with more mass would push back more, thus resulting in the opposite of what we actually observe.

Which would account for why the Earth remains stable.  Instead of being instantly crushed into a Black Hole.

Quantum physics is why objects are stable against gravitational collapse.

See - I knew somebody would appeal to "Quantum Physics" to explain the inexplicable!

[Kryptid]

See - I knew somebody would appeal to "Quantum Physics" to explain the inexplicable!

It isn't inexplicable. It's well understood. Subatomic particles exhibit a degeneracy pressure that pushes back against external pressure. It's a decidedly quantum phenomenon.

[charles1948]

See - I knew somebody would appeal to "Quantum Physics" to explain the inexplicable!

It isn't inexplicable. It's well understood. Subatomic particles exhibit a degeneracy pressure that pushes back against external pressure. It's a decidedly quantum phenomenon.

As you say, it's a decidedly quantum phenomenon.  Which means,  it doesn't make sense.  But just believe in it!

[Kryptid]

Which means,  it doesn't make sense.

Argument from incredulity. Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean it doesn't make sense to actual scientists.

But just believe in it!

We don't need to. We have tons and tons of physical evidence for it.

[charles1948]

You mean, you have statistical "meter readings".  Which prove the existence of the "Higg's Boson".

Really?

[Bored chemist]

Which means,  it doesn't make sense.

It may not make sense to you.
There may be a reason for that.
Is it your field of study?

[Bored chemist]

See - I knew somebody would appeal to "Quantum Physics" to explain the inexplicable!

By definition you can't explain the inexplicable.
So nobody did and nobody would bother to try.

[Kryptid]

You mean, you have statistical "meter readings".

That's hardly the only evidence we have for quantum phenomena (not that there's anything wrong with inferring data from instrument recordings in the first place). Tunnel diodes wouldn't work if quantum tunneling didn't exist. Nuclear fusion and fission wouldn't work either.

Which prove the existence of the "Higg's Boson".

No, it doesn't. There is no proof in science. It does provide very good evidence for it, though.

Does this thread need to be moved to New Theories? It's starting to get into science denialism territory.

EDIT: Actually, it looks like this thread was posted in the "Question of the Week" forum, which is probably not where it belongs in the first place. So I'll be moving it for that reason if nothing else.

[charles1948]

I regret your use of the word "denialism".  Doesn't it sound ideological, not scientific

[Kryptid]

I regret your use of the word "denialism".  Doesn't it sound ideological, not scientific

Nope. Ideology is about opinions. Science is about facts. If you deny the facts, you deny science.

[charles1948]

"Denialism"  doesn't sound scientific.  It's not appropriate.

[Kryptid]

"Denialism"  doesn't sound scientific. 

Good, because it's the opposite of science.

[charles1948]

"Denialism"  doesn't sound scientific.

Good, because it's the opposite of science.

No, the opposite of Science is Belief.  Like believing in the Higg's Boson. 

[Kryptid]

Like believing in the Higg's Boson. 

There is plenty of scientifically-based evidence for the existence of the Higgs boson. But given that this thread is about gravity, please start a new thread if you are going to continue discussing that.