Chapter 5: The Law of Universal Gravitation

Newton's law of universal gravitation

Newton's law that between any two objects in the universe there is an attractive force (gravity) that is proportional to the masses of the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

gravity

The attractive force that acts between any two objects in the universe.

gravitational constant

The exact numerical relation between the masses of two objects and the distance between them, on the one hand, and the gravitational force between them, on the other.

centripetal force

The force in circular motion, directed toward the center of the circle, that keeps an object following a curved or circular path.

weight

The force of gravity on an object.