The terms gravity and gravitation are used to explain the conditions that cause objects to attract each other. It’s quite acceptable to use both terms interchangeably.
Although the terms gravitation and gravity are used in physics, the principles are not the same. Even though both names refer to forces operating between two components, there was a lot more to them!
Key Takeaways
- Gravitational force is the attractive force between two objects with mass, while gravity specifically describes the force exerted by Earth on objects near its surface.
- Gravity is a specific example of gravitational force responsible for keeping objects on Earth’s surface.
- Both gravitational force and gravity follow the inverse square law, but gravity is a constant force experienced on Earth.
Gravitational Force vs Gravity
The gravitational force is a force that attracts any two objects with mass. We call the gravitational force attractive because it always tries to pull masses together, it never pushes them apart. Gravity is the force by which a planet or other body draws objects toward its center. The force of gravity keeps all of the planets in orbit around the sun.
Every mass-bearing object exerts a gravitational force on all other mass-bearing objects. The size of this energy and its strength is determined by the weights of the objects in question.
The planets’ orbits around the sun are kept in motion by gravity. Consequently, we can define gravity as a force that pulls a body toward the earth’s core.
The force of attraction at all between the two bodies in the universe is known as gravity. Each thing in our universe pulls another with a specific amount of force.
However, due to the feeble character of this force, we are frequently unable to detect it. Its weakness is mainly due to the wide separation distance.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Gravitational Force | Gravity |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | It is the force that exists in the cosmos between two bodies. | It is the force exerted by the earth on an object that is in close proximity to it. |
| Type of attraction | Gravitational Force is attractive or repulsive. | Gravity is Attractive only |
| Requirement | The size of each particular body among which the force is to be calculated is required. | It requires the mass of a single body that is close to the earth. |
| Nature force | Weaker. | Comparatively strong. |
| Direction | The gravitational force is directed away from the masses in a radial direction. | This force is directed along the line connecting the earth’s center and the body’s center. |
What is Gravitational Force?
Gravitation is a natural phenomenon that occurs between two distant things in the cosmos and causes them to move. Gravitation is the global force of attraction that holds all matter, large and small, together. It is the weakest of the fundamental forces of nature.
Newton’s law of universal gravitation, on the other hand, is a good approximation of gravity. In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton formulated the law of universal gravitation, which he used to explain the motion of planets and moons.
Everybody in the cosmos, we know, moves only as a result of some force. The gravitational force is the force operating between two bodies in the cosmos.
The weights of the two objects are m1 and m2, and they are separated by a distance of x. Because G is the universal constant, its value is the same everywhere.
The force felt by the bodies is determined by their weights and the distance between them. Consequently, when the particles are of enormous mass, the force between them will be greater.
On the other hand, if the two are far apart, the force will be very small. Gravity is a universally acknowledged phenomenon that plays a critical role in the survival of life on Earth. As a result, it is the reason for the air that humans need to breathe to survive.
What is Gravity?
Gravity is another natural phenomenon that occurs between both the earth and any object in space. Gravity is defined as the force acting between the Earth and objects in its vicinity.
Gravity is related to the earth and the objects that are present around it. We know that the earth is a massive body, and it’s worth noting that a body with a larger mass attracts a body with a lower mass.
As a result, the force of gravity is said to be appealing in nature, as the earth draws anybody that comes close to it. However, gravity’s range is thought to be infinite.
Sir Isaac Newton, a well-known physicist, was the first to notice it. In the year 1680, he published his seminal law of gravitation, Newton’s law.
However, because gravity’s acceleration is not a universal constant, its value fluctuates. It’s worth noting that the gravitational force is insignificant compared with gravity.
Consequently, the two items on the earth’s surface do not easily attract or repel each other. Earth, on the other hand, attracts falling objects easily.
Main Differences Between Gravitational Force and Gravity
- Gravitational Force is the force that exists between two things in space, while Gravity is the force exerted by the earth on an object that is close to it.
- Attractive or repulsive is the gravitational force, whereas Only Gravity is Attractive.
- Gravitational force is necessary to know the size of each individual body for which the force is to be calculated, whereas Gravity necessitates the mass of a single, close-to-the-earth body.
- Gravitational force is weaker than Gravity, whereas Gravity is more powerful than Gravitational force.
- In a radial direction, the gravitational force is acting away from the masses. This force is acting along the line that runs from the earth’s center to the center of the body. It is always trying to go closer to the earth’s core.
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09500690110038585
- https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0218271816501017
Last Updated : 22 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
