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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 gravitational equation:
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 (e.g., 5.97e24 for Earth's mass).
Q1: What is the gravitational constant G?
A: G is the proportionality constant in Newton's law, measured as 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg². It's one of the fundamental constants of nature.
Q2: Why is the force inversely proportional to distance squared?
A: This "inverse-square law" occurs because gravitational influence spreads out over the surface area of an expanding sphere (which increases as r²).
Q3: How does this relate to Einstein's theory of gravity?
A: Newton's law is an excellent approximation for weak gravitational fields and low velocities. Einstein's general relativity provides more accurate descriptions for strong fields or high precision.
Q4: Can this calculate orbits?
A: This gives the instantaneous force. Orbital calculations require solving differential equations that account for changing positions and velocities.
Q5: Why are gravitational forces between everyday objects so small?
A: Because G is extremely small (10⁻¹¹ order), so only very massive objects (like planets) produce noticeable gravitational effects.