1. What is the Force of Gravity Formula?

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

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

2. How Does the Formula Work?

The formula is Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:

Where:

• \( F \) — Gravitational force (Newtons, N)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²)
• \( m1 \) — Mass of first object (kilograms, kg)
• \( m2 \) — 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.

3. Importance of Gravitational Force Calculation

Details: Understanding gravitational forces is crucial for orbital mechanics, astrophysics, and understanding fundamental physical interactions.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Does this formula work for any distance?
A: It works for most astronomical distances, but for extreme gravity or very small scales, Einstein's General Relativity is needed.

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

Q4: How is this different from weight?
A: Weight is the gravitational force between an object and Earth (or another large body).

Q5: Why does distance have a squared relationship?
A: This inverse-square law reflects how gravitational influence spreads out in three-dimensional space.