Why is ‘G’ called the universal gravitational constant?

Question

Answer

Because its value i.e. 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2kg-2 is constant thought the universe.

Answer

The universal gravitational constant (G) relates the magnitude of the gravitational attractive force between two bodies to their masses and the distance between them. Its value is extremely difficult to measure experimentally.

Answer

Because it's value is constant everywhere in the universe that's why it is named as Universal Law of gravitation or Universal Gravitational Constant.

Answer

Introduction:
The universal gravitational constant, denoted by 'G', plays a crucial role in Newton's law of universal gravitation. It is a fundamental constant that helps us understand and calculate the force of gravitational attraction between objects. Let us delve into the details of why 'G' is called the universal gravitational constant.

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle 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 them. Mathematically, it can be represented as:

F = (G * m1 * m2) / r^2

where F is the gravitational force, m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects, r is the distance between their centers of mass, and G is the universal gravitational constant.

The Role of G:
1. Determining the Strength of Gravitational Force:
The universal gravitational constant, G, determines the strength of the gravitational force between two objects. It acts as a scaling factor, ensuring that the force of gravity is appropriately adjusted based on the masses and distances involved.

2. Independence from Objects and Distance:
G is called the 'universal' gravitational constant because it is independent of the objects or their properties. It remains constant regardless of the masses, sizes, or compositions of the objects. Moreover, G is also independent of the distance between the objects. This means that no matter where we are in the universe, the value of G remains the same.

Measuring the Value of G:
Determining the exact value of G is a challenging task. It requires highly precise and delicate experiments using sensitive instruments. The value of G was first measured by Henry Cavendish in the late 18th century using a torsion balance apparatus. Since then, numerous experiments have been conducted to refine its value, resulting in the currently accepted value of approximately 6.67430 × 10^-11 N(m/kg)^2.

Conclusion:
The universal gravitational constant, 'G', is an essential component of Newton's law of universal gravitation. It determines the strength of the gravitational force between objects and remains constant across the universe. Despite its challenging measurement, G plays a fundamental role in understanding and calculating the force of gravity, making it a universally applicable constant.

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