Gravitational force is the force that pulls two objects towards each other because of their mass. The larger the mass of an object, the greater its gravitational force, and the farther away two objects are from each other, the weaker the force. The force of gravity is what keeps planets orbiting around stars and is responsible for the weight of objects on the Earth’s surface. In simple words, it is the force that makes things fall towards the ground and keeps the Moon orbiting around the Earth.
Table of Contents
Formula of Gravitational Force
| Formula | F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2 Where: F = Gravitational force; G = Gravitational constant (6.6743 × 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2); m1 and m2 = Masses of the two objects; r = Distance between the centers of the two objects |
| SI Unit | Newton (N) |
| Gravitational Constant (G) | 6.674 x 10^-11 N*(m/kg)^2 |
| Common Units | Pound force (lbf), Dyne (dyn), Kilogram force (kgf), Poundal (pdl) |
| Conversion Factors | 1 N = 0.2248 lbf; 1 N = 100000 dyn 1 kgf = 9.80665 N 1 pdl = 0.1383 N |
Real World Examples of Gravitational Force
- Planetary Orbits: The gravitational force between the Sun and the planets in our solar system keeps them in their orbits.
- Falling Objects: The force of gravity is responsible for pulling objects towards the ground. When an object is dropped, the Earth’s gravity pulls it downwards.
- Tides: The gravitational force of the Moon and the Sun causes the tides in the oceans.
- Weight: The gravitational force between the Earth and an object determines its weight. An object weighs less on the Moon because it has less mass and the gravitational force is weaker.
- Black Holes: The gravitational force of a black hole is so strong that it can even pull in light.
- Satellite Orbits: The gravitational force between the Earth and a satellite keeps the satellite in orbit around the Earth.
- The Seasons: The tilt of the Earth’s axis and its orbit around the Sun is responsible for the changing seasons.
Gravitational Force Formula in Simple words
The formula for the gravitational force between two objects is:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
Where:
- F = gravitational force;
- G = gravitational constant (6.674 x 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2);
- m1 and m2 = masses of the two objects;
- r = distance between the centers of mass of the two objects;
The unit of gravitational force is Newtons (N), named after Sir Isaac Newton who discovered the laws of gravity. Other units of gravitational force include dynes, pounds-force, kilogram-force, and poundals.
In simple words, the formula tells us that the gravitational force between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them. The greater the masses of the objects, the greater the gravitational force, and the greater the distance between them, the weaker the force. The gravitational constant acts as a scaling factor and determines the strength of the force. Overall, the formula explains how gravity works and allows us to calculate the force of gravity between any two objects.
Let’s say you have two objects: a 5 kg ball and a 10 kg ball, placed 2 meters apart. What is the gravitational force between them?
Using the formula:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r2
Where G = 6.674 x 10-11 N * m2 / kg2, m1 = 5 kg, m2 = 10 kg, and r = 2 m.
Plugging in the values:
F = (6.674 x 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2) * (5 kg * 10 kg) / (2 m)^2 F = 1.67 x 10^-10 N
So, the gravitational force between the two balls is approximately 1.67 x 10-10 Newtons. This force is very small, which is why we don’t notice it in our everyday lives. However, it is still present and plays an important role in the motion of celestial objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies.
Summary
- Gravitational force is the force that exists between any two objects in the universe because of their masses.
- It is the force that pulls objects towards each other and is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around stars and moons in orbit around planets.
- The force of gravity between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them.
- The greater the masses of the objects, the greater the gravitational force, and the greater the distance between them, the weaker the force.
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Examples Related Questions
| No. | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | What is gravitational force? | Gravitational force is the force that exists between any two objects in the universe because of their masses. |
| 2. | What is the formula for gravitational force? | The formula for gravitational force is F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, where F is the force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and r is the distance between their centers of mass. |
| 3. | What is the unit of gravitational force? | The unit of gravitational force is Newtons (N). |
| 4. | What is the gravitational constant? | The gravitational constant (G) is a constant that appears in the formula for calculating the gravitational force between two objects. Its value is approximately 6.674 x 10^-11 N * m^2 / kg^2. |
| 5. | How does the gravitational force between two objects depend on their masses? | The gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to their masses. The greater the masses of the objects, the greater the gravitational force between them. |
| 6. | How does the gravitational force between two objects depend on their distance? | The gravitational force between two objects is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers of mass. The greater the distance between the objects, the weaker the gravitational force between them. |
| 7. | What is the significance of gravitational force? | Gravitational force is one of the fundamental forces of nature and plays a crucial role in the behavior of celestial objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies. It also explains why objects fall towards the ground and why the Moon orbits around the Earth. |
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Energy-The Ability to do Work| Daily Life Examples
Inertia and the Laws of Motion
Linear Acceleration| Formula, and Definition
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