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Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation

Definition

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation states that every particle attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance apart.

Analogy

Imagine two people playing tug-of-war with different strengths. If one person has more strength (mass) than the other, they will pull harder and closer together. Similarly, according to Newton's law, larger masses will have a stronger gravitational pull.

Related terms

Force: A push or pull that can change the motion of an object.

Proportional: When two quantities increase or decrease together at the same rate.

Inversely Proportional: When one quantity increases, the other decreases at the same rate.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.