Newton's law of gravitation

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Newton's law of gravitation

Statement that any particle of matter in the universe attracts any other with a force (F) that is proportional to the product of their masses (m₁ and m₂) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (R) between them. In symbols: F = G(m₁m₂)/R², where G is the gravitational constant. Isaac Newton put forth the law in 1687 and used it to explain the observed motions of the planets and their moons, which had been reduced to mathematical form by Johannes Kepler early in the 17th century.

For more information on Newton's law of gravitation, visit Britannica.com.

Search unanswered questions...

Browse: Unanswered questions | Most-recent questions | Reference library

Learn More

	Newtonian attraction (mechanics)
	three-body problem (mechanics)
	gravitational constant (mechanics)

	What is the difference between coulumb's law and newton's law of universal gravitation? Read answer...
	Compare and contrast coulomb's law and newton's law of universal gravitation? Read answer...
	What is the difference between Coulomb's Law and Newton's Law of Gravitation? Read answer...

Help us answer these

	Isaac newtons gravitational law?
	What was newtons law of gravitation?
	What proved newton's law of gravitation?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

Copyrights: