1. What is the Force Between Two Masses Formula?

Definition: This calculator computes the gravitational force between two masses using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.

Purpose: It helps physicists, astronomers, and students understand and calculate the gravitational attraction between any two objects with mass.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( F \) — Gravitational force (Newtons, N)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²)
• \( m_1 \) — Mass of first object (kilograms, kg)
• \( m_2 \) — Mass of second object (kilograms, kg)
• \( r \) — Distance between centers of masses (meters, m)

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

3. Importance of Gravitational Force Calculation

Details: Understanding gravitational forces is crucial for orbital mechanics, astrophysics, and fundamental physics research.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both masses 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 relative weakness of gravity compared to other fundamental forces.

Q2: Does this work for any distance?
A: The formula works for all distances, but for very small distances (quantum scales), general relativity effects become significant.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's accurate for classical physics problems, but doesn't account for relativistic effects at very high velocities or strong gravitational fields.

Q4: What are typical values for celestial bodies?
A: Earth's mass is ~5.97 × 10²⁴ kg, Sun's mass is ~1.99 × 10³⁰ kg, and Earth-Sun distance is ~1.5 × 10¹¹ m.

Q5: Why is the result in scientific notation?
A: Gravitational forces between everyday objects are extremely small, so scientific notation provides better readability.