• Question: is there a formula to calculate the gravitational pull of an object

    Asked by m'boro max to Ashley, Bernard, Carsten, MariaMagdalena, Monique on 7 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Monique Henson

      Monique Henson answered on 7 Nov 2015:

      Yes! It’s called Newton’s Law of Gravitation. More specifically, this formula tells you the gravitational pull between two objects. Gravity is a force that pulls things with mass towards each other. We often think of gravity as pulling one thing towards another, but in fact gravity acts on both objects. For example, you are pulled towards the Earth by gravity. But gravity also pulls the Earth towards you. We don’t notice the Earth being pulled towards you because the Earth is so massive and you are so light that you don’t have much of an effect on the Earth.

      Newton’s Law of Gravitation tells us that the gravitational force between two objects depends on the following things: the mass of both of the objects and the distance between them. If you want to see the formula, there’s a good page on it here.

    • Photo: Carsten Welsch

      Carsten Welsch answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      There is no simple answer to this unfortunately. There is Newton’s law of gravitation (google will give you the equation which I cannot include here). This is a good approximation and starting base as it helps the general understanding re why there is attraction between massive objects.

      In addition there is general relativity that describes the forces in the form of a geometric theory. Bodies affected only by gravitation are moving freely, but in a curved space time. By considering the mass distribution of different objects along the trajectory of a moving object one can calculate the resulting “gravitational pull” via changes to the space time hyperspace.

      One can also try to describe the effects via a so-called field theory. There are gravitational forces in such theory and these are associated to exchange particles called gravitons. It is possible to (numerically) calculate the resulting pull for specific scenarios. Both field theory and general relativity require rather advanced maths and would be covered in the final years of an undergraduate degree at university.

Comments