1. What is the Gravitational Force Formula?

Definition: This formula calculates the attractive force between two masses according to Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.

Purpose: It helps physicists, astronomers, and engineers understand and predict gravitational interactions between objects.

2. How Does the Formula Work?

The formula is:

Where:

• \( F \) — Gravitational force (Newtons, N)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67 × 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 any application where gravity significantly affects system behavior.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the masses of both objects in kilograms and their separation distance in meters. All values must be positive numbers.

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 formula work for any distance?
A: It works well for most astronomical distances, but requires general relativity for extreme gravity or very small distances.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: Extremely accurate for most purposes, though it doesn't account for relativistic effects or non-point masses.

Q4: What's a typical gravitational force between everyday objects?
A: Extremely small - for example, two 100kg objects 1m apart experience about 6.67 × 10⁻⁷ N of force.

Q5: How does this relate to weight?
A: Your weight is the gravitational force between you and Earth, calculated using Earth's mass and radius.