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I need to represent 4 things in a simple, pictographic form. I've got the first 3, for Wind, Water and Ice - but I need one for gravity in the same style. I'm struggling because gravity is not visible.

Here are the 3 for Wind, Water and Ice:

Update: Made all lines the same width, removed swirls from water:

Update - my decision for the gravity icon:

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    I don't feel it fits well with the others. Also, is there a reason for the varied line thickness? The snowflake, wind, and water all have different thicknesses. I'm also not a fan of the curls above the water. Just my opinion.
    – Manly
    Mar 28, 2016 at 20:36
  • Should there be a (visible) "connection" between the pictograms?
    – elegent
    Mar 28, 2016 at 20:38
  • @elegent They should all be similar styles - I'd like it to be predominantly lines.
    – Metasomatism
    Mar 28, 2016 at 20:45
  • @JohnManly I need to make the wind thinner. Unfortunately, that's not as simple as it sounds - I downloaded that and it's not lines, it's an area. I could probably do it though. The water looked very sparse without the swirls - let me add another wavy line above. And no, it doesn't fit - hence my request :)
    – Metasomatism
    Mar 28, 2016 at 20:46
  • I see. Maybe a starting point for gravity: wind is also not visible... ;)
    – elegent
    Mar 28, 2016 at 20:48

3 Answers 3

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Going with line art, here are some examples that follow the same style.

One idea that uses movement is showing the direction of gravity towards a surface.

gravity example

Another idea is to show an object slowly losing height.

gravity example 2

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  • Which program did you make these in out of interest?
    – Metasomatism
    Mar 28, 2016 at 21:24
  • @Metasomatism Adobe Illustrator
    – AndrewH
    Mar 28, 2016 at 21:28
  • My initial thought was your first diagram exactly
    – Zach Saucier
    Mar 28, 2016 at 21:45
  • @Metasomatism I think the second idea is closer to what will be needed. As mentioned before, many people associate gravity with Newton and therefore an image of something falling or losing height over time will give a better representation. The arrows are too ambiguous.
    – Bagseye
    Mar 29, 2016 at 8:00
  • As a layman, I like the ball image. I think it depicts gravity, but something about the blue that helps keep it with the rest your images. However, it feels like your wind and water are so simple in comparison to the ice, and gravity. $ .02
    – user63551
    Mar 29, 2016 at 9:51
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I think if you use an apple instead of a rock it would be more efficient as many people have the idea of gravity associated with an apple falling into Newton's head.

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    "many people have the idea of gravity associated with an apple falling into Newton's head" Do they? I'm not so sure. I'm not convinced that most "lay people" I know are even aware of this particular part of scientific history.
    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Mar 29, 2016 at 6:58
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    @BarryTheHatchet you're probably correct—and that makes me sad.
    – Cai
    Mar 29, 2016 at 13:29
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In keeping with your current line work possibly something along the lines of this? It is only a quick idea but as a representation of the forces of gravity it could help.

enter image description here

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