Gravitational Constant

Definition

The gravitational constant (G) is a fundamental physical constant that determines the strength of gravitational forces between objects with mass. It appears in Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Analogy

Think about two magnets attracting each other. The strength at which they attract depends on how strong their magnetic fields are, just like how gravitational forces depend on the value of G.

Related terms

Mass: Mass refers to the amount or quantity of matter contained in an object.

Weight: Weight is the force experienced by an object due to gravity pulling it towards Earth or any other celestial body.

Universal Law of Gravitation: The 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 distance between them.