1. What is the Gravitational Force Formula?

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

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

2. How Does the Formula Work?

The formula is:

Where:

• \( F \) — Gravitational force (Newtons, N)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67408 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²)
• \( m_1 \) — Mass of first object (kg)
• \( m_2 \) — Mass of second object (kg)
• \( r \) — Distance between centers of masses (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 essential for celestial mechanics, satellite orbits, and fundamental physics research.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the masses of both objects in kg, the distance between them in meters, and the gravitational constant (default is 6.67408 × 10⁻¹¹). 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. It's a fundamental constant of nature.

Q2: Does this work for any distance?
A: The formula works well for most distances, but for extremely strong gravitational fields (near black holes), Einstein's General Relativity is needed.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: For most practical purposes, it's very accurate. The gravitational constant is known to about 4 significant digits.

Q4: Why does distance have such a big impact?
A: Because of the inverse square law - doubling the distance reduces the force by a factor of four.

Q5: Can I use this for objects on Earth?
A: Yes, but for everyday objects near Earth's surface, the force is extremely small compared to Earth's gravity on those objects.