1. Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
The force of gravity between two objects is given by:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r²
Where:
* F is the gravitational force
* G is the gravitational constant (6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N⋅m²/kg²)
* m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects
* r is the distance between their centers
2. Values for Uranus and the Sun
* Mass of Uranus (m1): 8.681 × 10²⁵ kg
* Mass of the Sun (m2): 1.989 × 10³⁰ kg
* Average distance between Uranus and the Sun (r): 2.871 × 10¹² m (approximately)
3. Calculation
Substitute the values into the formula:
F = (6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N⋅m²/kg²) * (8.681 × 10²⁵ kg) * (1.989 × 10³⁰ kg) / (2.871 × 10¹² m)²
4. Result
F ≈ 3.6 × 10²² N (Newtons)
Therefore, the approximate gravitational force between Uranus and the Sun is 3.6 × 10²² Newtons.
Important Notes:
* This calculation uses the average distance between Uranus and the Sun. The actual force varies slightly as Uranus orbits in an elliptical path.
* This force is the gravitational force between the two bodies' centers of mass.
* It's a massive force, but it's important to remember that it's balanced by Uranus's orbital velocity, which is what keeps it in orbit around the Sun.