Final answer:
Gravity is a force that causes attraction between masses and is responsible for phenomena such as a falling apple and the Moon's orbit. The Sun's energy drives the water cycle, causing evaporation and rain, while atmospheric pressure differences give rise to wind.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gravity, wind, glaciers, and running water are natural occurrences influenced by different forces and conditions on Earth.
Gravity is a fundamental force that attracts two bodies towards each other, such as the force that causes objects to fall towards the Earth's surface, holds the Moon in orbit around Earth, and forms the structure of the universe at large scales. The energy from the Sun accelerates the water cycle by heating water bodies, leading to evaporation and sublimation.
Once water vapor cools, it condenses and gravitates back to Earth as precipitation, such as rain or snow. This same gravitational force causes surface and subsurface water to move downhill, eventually reaching rivers, lakes, and oceans. Glaciers move due to gravity pulling on the immense weight of the ice; they carve landscapes as they flow. Wind is a result of atmospheric changes, such as differences in air pressure often caused by varying temperatures on the Earth's surface—affected by the Sun’s heat.