1. What is the Force of Gravity 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 engineers understand and predict 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 m²/kg²)
• \( m_1 \) — Mass of first object (kilograms, kg)
• \( m_2 \) — Mass of second object (kilograms, kg)
• \( r \) — Distance between centers of mass (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 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 gravitational force is extremely weak compared to other fundamental forces, hence the small constant value.

Q2: Does this equation work for all distances?
A: It works well for most astronomical distances, but for very strong gravitational fields (near black holes), Einstein's General Relativity is needed.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's highly accurate for point masses or spherical objects with uniform density.

Q4: Why does distance have such a large effect?
A: Because the force decreases with the square of the distance (inverse-square law).

Q5: Can I use this for objects on Earth's surface?
A: Yes, but Earth's radius must be used as the distance for calculating weight (force due to gravity).