Magnitude of Gravitational Force Calculator

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:

\[ F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \]

Mass of first object (m₁):

Mass of second object (m₂):

Distance between objects (r):

Gravitational Force (F):

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1. What is Gravitational Force?

The gravitational force is a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass or energy are brought toward one another. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, every point mass attracts every other point mass by a force acting along the line intersecting both points.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:

\[ F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \]

Where:

\( F \) — Gravitational force (N)
\( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s²)
\( m_1 \) — Mass of first object (kg)
\( m_2 \) — Mass of second object (kg)
\( r \) — Distance between centers of the 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

Details: Gravitational force is fundamental to the structure of the universe, governing planetary orbits, galaxy formation, and many everyday phenomena like weight and tides.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter masses in kilograms and distance in meters. All values must be positive numbers. For astronomical calculations, use scientific notation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the value of G?
A: The gravitational constant G is approximately 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s².

Q2: Why is the force so small for everyday objects?
A: Because G is extremely small, significant gravitational force only becomes noticeable with planetary-scale masses.

Q3: Does this equation work for any distance?
A: It works for point masses or spherical objects with r measured between centers. For very small distances or strong fields, Einstein's general relativity is needed.

Q4: What's the difference between weight and gravitational force?
A: Weight is specifically the gravitational force exerted by a planet (usually Earth) on an object near its surface.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's perfectly accurate for classical mechanics scenarios, but doesn't account for relativistic effects which become significant near very massive objects.