Which non-contact force is primarily responsible for holding objects to the Earth's surface?

The force primarily responsible for holding objects to the Earth's surface is gravity. Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that attracts two bodies towards each other, and in the case of Earth, it draws objects towards its center. This attraction provides weight to objects, ensuring that they rest on the ground rather than floating away into space.

Gravity is an essential force that influences not only the movement of everyday objects but also governs the orbits of planets, moons, and other celestial bodies. Its effects can be observed universally, as every mass experiences the pull of gravity, which keeps everything anchored to larger bodies like Earth.

In contrast, friction is a contact force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact and does not hold objects down to the ground. Elastic force relates to the restoration of shape in materials that have been deformed, and centrifugal force is not a real force but rather a perceived effect experienced in a rotating system, making them less relevant in explaining how objects remain on the surface of Earth.