Gravitational Force Calculator
Use Newton's law of universal gravitation to find the attraction between two masses
Inputs
Formula: F = G · m₁ · m₂ / r², where F is in Newtons when masses are in kilograms and distance is in meters.
Default: 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹
Force:
Understanding the Result
- For astronomical bodies, expect very large or very small numbers expressed in scientific notation.
- If objects are far apart, the force falls off with the square of the distance.
- Use SI units to avoid rounding errors; conversions are applied automatically above.
How gravitational force is calculated
Formula
F = Gm₁m₂ / r²
Newton’s law of gravitation relates two masses and the center-to-center distance between them.
Worked example
Doubling the distance reduces the gravitational force to one quarter of its original value.
Common mistake
Use kilograms and meters, and square the full distance value.