Ask a Teacher

what you mean by gravitational force?

The force with which the earth pulls the objects towards it is called the gravitational force of earth or gravity(of earth). It is due to the gravitational force of earth that all the objects fall towards the earth when released from a height. The gravitational force of earth is responsible for holding the atmosplhere above the earth; for the rain falling to the earth; and for the flow of water in the rivers. It is also the gravitational force of the earth, which keeps us firmly on the ground.

• Gravitational force is always attractive.

• It is independent of the intervening medium.

• It is an action reaction pair.

• It is a two body interaction ie; gravitational force between bodies is independent of the presence or absence of other bodies.

• The gravitational force is a central force as they act along the line joining the centre of the two bodies.

• The gravitational force is conservative.

• It holds good over wide range of distances. It is found to be true from interplanetary distance to inter-atomic distance.