Gravitational Force Calculator

Introduction

Newton’s law of universal gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle in the universe with force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. The Gravitational Force Calculator helps calculate the force exerted by two massive objects on each other.

The constant of proportionality G is also known as the universal gravitational constant. It is the same at all places and times, and it characterizes the strength of the gravitational force.

The gravitational force between two particles decreases with increasing distance ‘r’. If the distance doubles, the force will be 1/4th the original force.

If the mass of one of the objects is doubled, then the force of gravity between them is also doubled.

How to use the Gravitational Force Calculator?

Using the Gravitational Force Calculator, you can calculate the Gravitational Force between two objects.

The variables in the Calculator include

Mass (m1) The mass of the first object.

Mass (m2) The mass of the second object.

Distance (r) The distance between the two objects.

Gravitational Constant (G) The constant of proportionality for the equation is known as the gravitational constant.

Gravitational Force (F)

The magnitude of the gravitational force of attraction between the two objects.

What is Gravitational Force?

Gravitational force is the force of attraction between any two objects in the Universe. Sir Isaac Newton came up with the Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

Since the gravitational force is directly proportional to the mass of both objects, the more mass the object has, the greater the gravitational force.

The gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two objects. So, the greater the distance between the two objects, the weaker the gravitational force.

Newton’s law of universal gravitation expands the concept of gravity to applies to all objects in the universe, not just those on Earth. Newton is lauded not because he discovered gravity itself but because he discovered that it applies universally to all objects.

How is Gravitational Force Calculated?

The magnitude of the gravitational force is given by the following equation.

F = \dfrac{G \cdot m_1 \cdot m_2}{r^2}

Where,

m1 → Mass of Object 1

m2 → Mass of Object 2

r → Distance between the two objects

G → Universal Gravitational Constant, which is equal to 6.673 x 10-11 N m^2/kg^2

As you can see, the value for G is very small, so gravity is the weakest force in nature.

Examples

FAQs

What is gravitational force?

The force a mass-bearing entity exerts on any other body nearby is called gravitational force. So, the gravitational force is the force that helps maintain the planets in their orbits around the sun, binds the stars in galaxies together, and pulls things downward. Newton’s universal law of gravitation is used to explain it.

What is the value of the gravitational constant?

The gravitational constant (G) measures the strength of the gravitational force. Its value is approximately 6.674 x 10^-11 N*(m^2)/(kg^2)

How does distance affect the strength of the gravitational force?

The gravitational pull becomes weaker as the distance between the two bodies grows. So, the gravitational force between two bodies is inversely proportional to their distance squared, according to the inverse square law.

How does mass affect the strength of the gravitational force?

The mass of the objects and their separation from one another determine the gravitational force’s intensity. For example, the force of gravity between the objects doubles if one of the masses is doubled. Hence, the force of gravity weakens as the distance between the two items increases.

What is the difference between weight and mass?

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons (N) or pounds (lb). Mass is the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).

How does gravity affect the motion of objects?

Gravity is an attractive force, which means it pulls objects together. Also, gravity does not require objects to be in contact with one another to operate on them.

Gravity acts downward toward the center of the Earth. Generally, an upward force balances the downward pull of gravity. Gravity causes things to accelerate downward, but air resistance works in the opposite direction of motion, reducing acceleration.

How does gravity affect the orbits of planets?

The Sun is the largest object in our solar system. It has a strong gravitational force, affecting all planets in the solar system. The Sun also pulls all the planets towards the center of the sun. But, due to the inertia of the planets, forces are acting in opposite directions, which causes the planets to spin and be in a circular orbit. The forces of inertia and gravity must be perfectly balanced for the circular orbit to exist.

How does gravity affect the tides?

The gravitational force of the moon pulls the water on the side of the earth that faces the moon toward it, causing a bulge of water. On the other side of the earth, the Inertia of the earth creates another bulge. The sun also affects the tides, but since the sun is quite far away (about 390 times farther), the sun’s tidal force is only about 46% as strong as that of the moon.

How is the gravitational force used in everyday life?

Gravity is a fundamental force that keeps us on the ground, causes things to fall, and influences the tides, among other elements of daily life. Additionally, it is utilized in functioning some machinery, like hydroelectric power plants, and in timing and navigational systems like GPS.