Newton's law of gravitation

British  

noun

1. the principle that two particles attract each other with forces directly proportional to the product of their masses divided by the square of the distance between them

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Newton's law of gravitation Scientific  

/ no̅o̅t′nz /

1. The principle that expresses the force of gravitational attraction between two bodies as a function of their mass and their distance. Expressed mathematically, F = Gm₁m₂/d² where F is the force in Newtons, m ₁ and m ₂ are the masses of the bodies in kilograms, G is the gravitational constant, and d is the distance between the bodies in meters. Newton's Principle of Gravitation is an example of an inverse square law.

2. Also called law of gravitation law of universal gravitation

3. See Note at gravity

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Example Sentences

If this alternative gravity theory is correct, it would be a "major revolution," Loeb said, emphasizing it would be at the scale of Newton's law of gravitation and Einstein's law of gravity.

From Salon • Oct. 28, 2021

Newton’s law of gravitation states that F = −G m1 m2 ^r , where G is the universal gravitational constant.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Newton's law of gravitation was argued against and rejected by a whole generation of philosophers on the continent of Europe; yet it has prevailed.

From Slavery Ordained of God by Ross, F. A. (Frederick Augustus)

Newton's law of gravitation is "large bodies attract small ones."

From The Universe a Vast Electric Organism by Warder, George Woodward

But by so sharply distinguishing between Newton and Kepler, do we not do injustice to the fact that, as the world believes, Kepler's third law is the parent of Newton's law of gravitation?

From Man or Matter by Lehrs, Ernst