1. What is Gravitational Force?

Gravitational force is the attractive force between any two objects with mass. It's described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that 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:

Where:

• \( F \) — Gravitational force (newtons)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.674 × 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 (meters)

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 governs the motion of celestial bodies, keeps planets in orbit around stars, and determines the weight of objects on Earth. It's fundamental to understanding astrophysics and celestial mechanics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter masses in kilograms and distance in meters. All values must be positive numbers (distance must be greater than zero).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the gravitational constant so small?
A: The gravitational constant is small because gravity is the weakest of the four fundamental forces, though its effect is cumulative and dominates at large scales.

Q2: Does this equation work for any distance?
A: It works for point masses or spherical objects with uniform density. For very small distances (quantum scales) or very strong fields (near black holes), general relativity is needed.

Q3: Why is the force inversely proportional to distance squared?
A: This inverse-square law occurs because gravitational influence spreads out equally in all directions through three-dimensional space.

Q4: How does this relate to weight on Earth?
A: Your weight is the gravitational force between your mass and Earth's mass, with r being Earth's radius at the surface.

Q5: Can gravity be negative?
A: The magnitude is always positive, but the force vector points toward the other mass, which we sometimes represent with a negative sign in calculations.