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Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
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Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
The calculator uses Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
Where:
Explanation: The force between two objects increases with their masses and decreases with the square of the distance between them.
Details: This fundamental force governs the motion of planets, stars, and galaxies. It's essential for understanding orbital mechanics, tides, and the large-scale structure of the universe.
Tips: Enter masses in kilograms and distance in meters. All values must be positive numbers. For astronomical calculations, use scientific notation.
Q1: What is the gravitational constant (G)?
A: It's a proportionality constant in Newton's law, measured as 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s². It quantifies the strength of gravity.
Q2: Why is the force so small for everyday objects?
A: Because G is extremely small, so noticeable gravitational force only occurs between very massive objects like planets.
Q3: Does this equation work for any distance?
A: It works well for most cases, but for very strong gravitational fields (near black holes) or very small distances (quantum scales), general relativity or quantum gravity theories are needed.
Q4: How was G first measured?
A: Henry Cavendish first measured G in 1798 using a torsion balance experiment.
Q5: Is gravity always attractive?
A: In Newtonian physics, yes. In general relativity, gravity can have repulsive effects in certain cosmological contexts with dark energy.