Example 1: Calculate the gravitational force if the mass of the sun is \( 1.99 \times 10^{\wedge} 30 \mathrm{~kg} \) and earth is \( 5.97 \times 10^{\wedge} 24 \mathrm{~kg} \) separated by the distance \( 1.5 \times 10^{\wedge} 11 \mathrm{~m} \) ?(Gravitational constant \( \mathrm{G}=6.673 \times 10^{\wedge}-11 \mathrm{Nm} 2 / \) Kg 2 ) \( \quad \) Edited 19:23
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To calculate the gravitational force between the Sun and Earth, you can use Newton's law of universal gravitation, which is expressed as: \[ F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \] Where \( F \) is the gravitational force, \( G \) is the gravitational constant (\( 6.673 \times 10^{-11} \ \text{Nm}^2/\text{kg}^2 \)), \( m_1 \) is the mass of the Sun (\( 1.99 \times 10^{30} \ \text{kg} \)), \( m_2 \) is the mass of the Earth (\( 5.97 \times 10^{24} \ \text{kg} \)), and \( r \) is the distance between their centers (\( 1.5 \times 10^{11} \ \text{m} \)). Plugging in the values gives: \[ F = 6.673 \times 10^{-11} \frac{(1.99 \times 10^{30})(5.97 \times 10^{24})}{(1.5 \times 10^{11})^2} \] Calculating this will yield the gravitational force between the two bodies! Did you know that in history, the concept of gravity was first understood by Isaac Newton in the 17th century? He famously formulated the universal law of gravitation, explaining that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe. His work laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and has been a fundamental aspect of physics since then! In the real world, the gravitational force ensures that planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun rather than drifting off into space. This delicate balance between gravitational pull and orbital motion keeps our solar system stable. Additionally, understanding gravitational forces is crucial for space missions, as it helps determine trajectory and fuel requirements for spacecraft exploring other planets and celestial bodies!