1. What is the Gravitational Force Equation?

Definition: This equation calculates the gravitational force between two objects based on their masses and the distance between them.

Purpose: It helps physicists, astronomers, and students understand and calculate gravitational interactions between objects.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:

Where:

• \( F \) — Gravitational force (Newtons, N)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ N(m/kg)²)
• \( m_1 \) — Mass of first object (kg)
• \( m_2 \) — Mass of second object (kg)
• \( r \) — Distance between centers of mass (m)

Explanation: The force is directly proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

3. Importance of Gravitational Force Calculation

Details: Understanding gravitational forces is crucial for orbital mechanics, astrophysics, and many engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the masses of both objects in kilograms and the distance between them in meters. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the gravitational constant so small?
A: The small value reflects the weakness of gravity compared to other fundamental forces at small scales.

Q2: Does this equation work for any distance?
A: It works well for most astronomical distances, but for very strong gravitational fields, Einstein's General Relativity is needed.

Q3: What's a typical gravitational force between everyday objects?
A: Extremely small - for example, two 100kg people 1m apart experience about 0.000000667 N of force.

Q4: How does distance affect the force?
A: Doubling the distance reduces the force by a factor of four (inverse square law).

Q5: Why do we use meters and kilograms in this equation?
A: The SI units ensure the result comes out in Newtons (N), the standard unit of force.