Here's why:
* Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: This law states that the force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
* Inverse Square Law: The "inversely proportional to the square of the distance" part is key. As the distance decreases, the force increases dramatically. If you halve the distance, the force becomes four times stronger.
Example: Imagine two planets. If you move them closer together, their gravitational attraction will become much stronger, potentially causing them to collide or affect each other's orbits.
In summary: The closer two objects get, the stronger the gravitational force between them becomes. This relationship is why we feel the Earth's gravity so strongly when we are standing on its surface.
