Skip to main content

What is the force of attraction between two objects that is due to their masses?

Gravity!This is the reason you are not floating around right now (unless you happen to be in outer space, but I assume you're not); the Earth's mass is producing gravity that holds you to the ground. The Newtonian formula for gravitation isn't quite accurate (it has been replaced by Einstein's field equations in General Relativity), but it's actually extremely close as long as you're not near a black hole or traveling close to the...

Gravity!

This is the reason you are not floating around right now (unless you happen to be in outer space, but I assume you're not); the Earth's mass is producing gravity that holds you to the ground.

The Newtonian formula for gravitation isn't quite accurate (it has been replaced by Einstein's field equations in General Relativity), but it's actually extremely close as long as you're not near a black hole or traveling close to the speed of light.

Newton's gravitational equation says that the force F between two masses m1 and m2 is equal to the product of their masses, divided by the square of the distance r between them, all multiplied by a constant G to make the units work out:

`F = G {m_1 m_2}/{r^2}`


As far as the actual mechanism of gravity, that's actually still unknown. Many physicists hypothesize that there is an as-yet undiscovered particle that carries the force of gravity, a graviton, analogous to the particles that carry the force of electromagnetism, photons. But we've never found these gravitons, and we still don't know why it is that gravitational force is proportional to mass and not some independent charge the way that all other forces are.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more