Levitation (from Latin levitas "lightness")br br is the process by which an object is held aloft, without mechanical support, in a stable position.br br Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteracts the pull of gravity (in relation to gravity on earth), plus a smaller stabilizing force that pushes the object toward a home position whenever it is a small distance away from that home position. The force can be a fundamental force such as magnetic or electrostatic, or it can be a reactive force such as optical, buoyant, aerodynamic, or hydrodynamic.[citation needed]br br Levitation excludes floating at the surface of a liquid because the liquid provides direct mechanical support.