What are the key parameters in Newton's gravitational equation?

The key parameters in Newton's gravitational equation are the gravitational constant (G), the masses of the objects (m1 and m2), and the distance between them (r).

Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centres. This law is represented by the equation F = G * (m1 * m2) / r², where F is the force of attraction between the particles, m1 and m2 are the masses of the particles, r is the distance between the centres of the two particles, and G is the gravitational constant.

The gravitational constant (G) is a key parameter in this equation. It is a proportionality constant used in the equation of Newton's law of universal gravitation, and it is approximately equal to 6.67430(15)×10⁻¹¹ N(m/kg)². This constant is the same throughout the universe and it essentially describes the strength of the gravitational force.

The masses of the objects (m1 and m2) are also key parameters. The force of gravity between two objects increases as the mass of either object increases. If the mass of one of the objects is doubled, the force of gravity between them also doubles. This is because the force of gravity is directly proportional to the product of the two masses.

The distance between the objects (r) is another key parameter. The force of gravity decreases with the square of the distance between the objects. This means that if the distance between the objects is doubled, the force of gravity between them is reduced to a quarter of its original value. This is because the force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the centres of the two objects.

In conclusion, the gravitational constant, the masses of the objects, and the distance between them are the key parameters in Newton's gravitational equation. Understanding these parameters and how they interact is crucial to understanding the nature of gravitational forces.