The force that causes objects to fall is known as gravity. Two bodies will be pulled together by gravitation. The universe is filled with forces, but they can’t always be seen. When things move away from the gravitational pull, the effect weakens.
Sir Isaac Newton came up with Newton’s law of gravitation in the year 1680, and he called it the law of gravitation. There are two primary approaches:
1. Gravitation is the force of the earth to attract other masses towards it.
Example: There is a force called gravity that pulls the ball back down to the ground when it’s thrown up.
2. Gravitation, on the other hand, may also be the reason that things in outer space are drawn to each other.
Example: The sun, other planets, and the other objects all have a strong attraction to each other.
What is Gravitational Force?
Newton’s law of universal gravitation states that every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with force directly proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Mathematically, it is expressed as:
F ∝ m1 m2/r2
F m1m2/r2
F = G x m1 m2/r2
Where F is the gravitational force and m1 and m2 are the masses of bodies that are r distance apart, and G is the gravitational constant= 6.67 × 10−11 N.m2/kg2 . This force is called Gravitational Force. Gravitational force doesn’t affect by the type of material of the particular object.
History of Gravitational Theory
Nicholas Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory based on the circular orbits of a test mass around a source mass. The model accurately predicts the planets’ positions and motions. Still, it doesn’t explain many things, like the occurrence of seasons, which led to the development of a model based on Kepler’s laws of planets.
Gravitational Force Formula
Newton’s law of Gravitation is used to explain the gravitational force. A force called gravitational force determines how much weight we each have and how far a ball travels when we throw it before it lands on the ground.
Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with force equal to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their separation, according to Newton’s Law of Gravitation.
Using math, it can be shown as,
In this example, F = Gm1m2/R2
Where
Force F is the amount of gravitational force between two objects measured in Newtons (N).
Universal Gravitational Constant G has a value of 6.6774 x 10-11 Nm2/kg-2. This is the value of G.
It’s the mass of one celestial object in kg called m1.
A heavenly object’s mass in kilograms is m2.
R is the distance between them, in meters, as shown in the measure (m).
Difference Between Gravitation and Gravity
The force operating between two bodies is known as gravity, and it can be expressed as F = (GM1M2)/R2 which means the gravitational force is proportional to the product of the masses of objects 1 and 2 and inversely proportional to the square of their distance. Gravitational force is the gravitational force that exists between the earth and any object.
Difference Between Gravitation and Gravity
Gravitation | Gravity |
It’s a universal force. | It isn’t a universal force. |
It’s a weak force. | It’s a strong force. |
F = (GM1M2)/R2 is the force (G = gravitational constant). | The force is F=mg (g=acceleration due to gravity). |
Gravitational force is directed away from the masses in a radial direction. | The line between the earth’s centre and the body’s centre is in the direction of gravity. It travels in the direction of the earth’s centre. |
When the distance between bodies is infinite, the force might be 0. | At the earth’s core, the force of gravity may be zero. |
Two masses are needed. | Only one mass is required. |
Effect of material medium on gravitation
The gravitation depends on the mass of the object but it doesn’t affect by the type of material of the particular object. So all objects, regardless of their composition, have identical gravitation. For example, an electric field makes the material it passes through polarized. On the other hand, Gravity only has one polarity, so when it goes through a medium, there are no polarizing effects of polarizing forces.
The gravitational effect can’t be blocked by any medium, but electrostatic force can. Because gravitational force doesn’t depend on any medium.
The force from Gravity does not change because Gravity is one-sided. Charges that have two polarities are called “electric charges.” An electric field makes the material it passes through polarized. On the other hand, Gravity only has one polarity, so when it goes through a medium, there are no polarizing effects of polarizing forces.
Conclusion
Newton’s law of universal gravitation states that every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with force directly proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The gravitational effect can’t be blocked by any medium, but electrostatic force can. Because gravitational force doesn’t depend on any medium.