Dependence of Gravitational Force on Mass

According to Newton's law of gravitation, the force of attraction is directly proportional to the mass of the body.

Consider two objects of mass m separated by a distance d, then the force between them is given by the relation

Two objects of mass m separated by a distance d.

When the mass of one of the two objects is doubled, force of attraction is given by the relation

Two objects of mass m and 2m separated by a distance d.

When the masses of both bodies are doubled, the force of attraction is

Two objects of mass 2m separated by a distance d.

i.e., whenever the mass increases the force of attraction also increases.

Sub Topics

Dependence of Gravitational Force on Distance

Dependence of Gravitational Force on Distance

According to the universal law of gravitation, the force of attraction between two bodies is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects. Force of attraction between two bodies of mass m separated by a distance d.

Force of attraction between two bodies of mass m separated by a distance d.

The force of attraction when the distance is doubled.

Force of attraction between two bodies of mass m separated by a distance 2d.

Let us now calculate the force of attraction when the distance between the bodies is increased three times.

Force of attraction between two bodies of mass m separated by a distance 3d.

That is, when the distance is doubled, the force will be reduced to 1/4^t^h of the original value of force and when the distance is increased three times, the force will be reduced to 1/9^t^h of the original value of force. From the above example, we can arrive at the conclusion that the force of attraction between the bodies varies inversely as the square of the distance between them.