Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
The gravitational force between two objects is described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
* F = G * (m1 * m2) / r²
Where:
* F is the force of gravity
* G is the gravitational constant (a fixed value)
* m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects
* r is the distance between the centers of the two objects
The Effect of Distance
Notice that the distance between the objects (r) is in the denominator of the equation, and it's squared. This means:
* Inverse Relationship: The gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
* Increase in Distance, Decrease in Force: If you increase the distance between the star and planet, the gravitational force between them decreases.
* 3 Times the Distance, 1/9th the Force: If you triple the distance (3 times greater), the gravitational force becomes 1/9th of what it was originally.
Explanation
Think of it this way:
* Gravity is a force that pulls objects towards each other.
* As the distance between the objects increases, the pull weakens.
* The force of gravity weakens much faster than the distance increases because it's squared in the equation.
In Conclusion
If the distance between a star and a planet were three times as great, the gravitational attraction between them would decrease to one-ninth its original strength.
