Here's a breakdown:
* [M]: Represents mass.
* [L]: Represents length or distance.
* [T]: Represents time.
Let's understand how this dimension arises from the formula of gravitational force:
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
F = G * (m₁ * m₂) / r²
Where:
* F: Gravitational force
* G: Gravitational constant (dimension: [M⁻¹ L³ T⁻²])
* m₁ and m₂: Masses of the two objects
* r: Distance between the centers of the two objects
Now, let's analyze the dimensions:
* F = [M L T⁻²]: We need to find the dimensions of the force (F).
* G = [M⁻¹ L³ T⁻²]: The gravitational constant has these dimensions.
* m₁ and m₂ = [M]: Mass has the dimension of mass.
* r² = [L²]: Distance squared has the dimension of length squared.
Substituting these dimensions into the formula:
[F] = [M⁻¹ L³ T⁻²] * [M] * [M] / [L²]
Simplifying, we get:
[F] = [M L T⁻²]
Therefore, the dimension of gravitational force is [M L T⁻²].