How is the gravitational field strength related to the distance from the source?

The gravitational field strength decreases with distance from the source.

As an object moves away from a source of gravity, the gravitational field strength decreases. This is because the force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two objects. This means that as the distance between two objects doubles, the force of gravity decreases to one-fourth of its original strength.

The equation for gravitational field strength is given by g = Gm/r^2, where g is the gravitational field strength, G is the gravitational constant, m is the mass of the object creating the gravitational field, and r is the distance from the object. From this equation, it is clear that as r increases, g decreases.

This relationship between gravitational field strength and distance is important in many areas of physics, including astronomy and space travel. For example, spacecraft must take into account the gravitational field strength of planets and other celestial bodies when planning their trajectories. Similarly, astronomers use the gravitational field strength to study the properties of stars and galaxies.

In summary, the gravitational field strength is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of gravity. This relationship is described by the equation g = Gm/r^2 and is important in many areas of physics.