1. Mass:
* Direct Proportionality: Gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses of the two objects. This means:
* If you double the mass of one object, you double the gravitational force.
* If you double the mass of both objects, you quadruple the gravitational force.
2. Distance:
* Inverse Square Law: Gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the centers of the two objects. This means:
* If you double the distance between the objects, the gravitational force becomes four times weaker.
* If you triple the distance, the gravitational force becomes nine times weaker.
In Summary:
* Greater mass = Stronger gravitational force.
* Greater distance = Weaker gravitational force.
Formula:
The relationship between mass, distance, and gravitational force is described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
```
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
```
Where:
* F is the force of gravity
* G is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.674 × 10^-11 N⋅m²/kg²)
* m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects
* r is the distance between the centers of the two objects
Examples:
* The Earth and the Moon: The Moon has less mass than the Earth, but it's still affected by Earth's gravity because it's relatively close.
* The Sun and the Earth: The Sun has a much larger mass than the Earth, and its gravitational force keeps the Earth in orbit.
* Two Apples: Even two apples sitting on a table experience a tiny gravitational force between them, but it's so weak it's practically impossible to detect.