GRAVITATION
Frequently Asked Questions
Gravitation is the force of attraction between any two objects in the universe.
Sir Isaac Newton formulated the Universal Law of Gravitation.
Every object attracts every other object with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
\(F=G \frac{Mm}{d^2}\), where \(G\) is gravitational constant, \(M\) and \(m\) are masses, and \(d\) is distance.
Free fall is the motion of an object under gravity only, without air resistance.
It is the acceleration produced in a body due to gravitational force, denoted by \(g\), approximately \(9.8\, m/s^2\) on Earth.
Because acceleration due to gravity is constant and does not depend on mass when air resistance is negligible.
Mass is the amount of matter; weight is the force of gravity on the mass and can vary by location.
Moon’s gravity is about 1/6th Earth's, so weight decreases but mass remains the same.
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an object immersed in it.
Buoyant force on an object equals the weight of the fluid displaced by it.
The Moon and Sun’s gravity pull ocean water, causing tides.
‘g’ is acceleration due to gravity, varying slightly with location on Earth.
It keeps planets, moons, and satellites in orbit, shapes galaxies, and causes tides.
Earth’s gravity pulls all objects towards its center.
Air resistance affects the feather more; ignoring air, both fall at same rate under gravity.
\(G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11} \, Nm^2/kg^2\).
Gravity provides centripetal force to keep satellites revolving around Earth.
Force increases with mass and decreases with the square of distance.
\(W=mg\), measured in newton (N).
Because gravitational acceleration \(g\) is uniform near Earth's surface.
It decreases gradually since gravitational pull gets weaker with height.
Gravitation is universal attraction between masses; gravity is attraction specifically due to Earth.
No, by Newton’s third law, forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
It keeps planets orbiting the Sun and moons orbiting planets, maintaining system stability.
