Which force is responsible for holding objects in place on the Earth's surface?

The gravitational force is responsible for holding objects in place on the Earth's surface. This force is an attractive force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth, ensuring that they remain anchored to the ground. It acts on all objects with mass, and its strength depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. The gravitational force is what gives weight to objects, making it fundamental in maintaining their position relative to the planet.

The other forces, while important in certain contexts, do not primarily hold objects in place against the gravitational pull. For example, frictional force acts between surfaces in contact and opposes motion, but it works in conjunction with gravitational force rather than independently holding objects in place. Electromagnetic force involves interactions between charged particles, which is significant in atomic and molecular bonds but not in maintaining an object's position on Earth’s surface. Tension force is associated with strings, ropes, or cables and acts to pull objects apart or hold them in place but doesn't factor into why objects stay grounded. Thus, gravitational force is the primary explanation for why objects remain on the Earth's surface.