740
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + + + + + Line 26:
Line 30: − − *''G'' is the [[gravitational constant]]: 6.67428x10<sup>-11</sup> N m<sup>2</sup> kg <sup>-2</sup>
Restore modified version of introduction from page history.
'''Gravitation''' is the tendency for matter to attract other matter. Gravitation is what gives everyday objects [[Weight|weight]], and what causes objects that are dropped from a height to fall to the ground. Gravitation also keeps the [[Moon|moon]] in orbit around the [[Earth]] and the Earth in orbit around the [[Sun|sun]].
'''Gravitation''' is the tendency for every object with [[mass]] to attract every other object with [[mass]]. Gravitation is what gives everyday objects [[Weight|weight]], and what causes objects that are dropped from a height to fall to the ground. Gravitation also keeps the [[Moon|moon]] in orbit around the [[Earth]] and the Earth in orbit around the [[Sun|sun]].
The attraction depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. The gravitational force between two persons is minuscule; however, the gravitational force between a person and the [[earth]] is quite significant. However, if the person gets in a spacecraft and flies halfway to the moon, the gravitational force between him and the earth will significantly decrease because they are farther apart. The force will never becomes zero no matter how far he goes from the earth; however, if he goes far enough away, it will be counterbalanced by other masses' gravitational force.
The mechanism which transports gravity has never been observed. [[Isaac Newton]] famously said about gravity, ''"Hypotheses non fingo,"'' or, "I make no hypotheses" about how it works. More recently, [[Albert Einstein]] hypothesized as part of [[general relativity]] that gravity is a fictitious force caused by masses distorting [[spacetime]] itself. [[Quantum mechanics]] denies this and hypothesizes instead that gravity is transmitted by a hypothetical particle, the [[graviton]], similar to how the electromagnetic force is transmitted by the [[photon]]. The debate continues as scientists try to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics.
== Scientific Theories of Gravitation ==
== Scientific Theories of Gravitation ==
*''<b>r</b>'' is the vector that separates the objects' centers of mass.
*''<b>r</b>'' is the vector that separates the objects' centers of mass.
*''G'' is the [[gravitational constant]]: <math>\frac{6.67428 \times 10^{-11} N m^2}{kg^2}</math>
*''G'' is the [[gravitational constant]]: <math>\frac{6.67428 \times 10^{-11} N m^2}{kg^2}</math>