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Definition: gravitation from Dictionary of Energy

Physics. a force of attraction between any two bodies having mass, the magnitude of which is dependent on the product of the two masses and the inverse square of the distance between them. Thus, gravitational energy or force. See also gravity

gravitation

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
the attractive force existing between any two particles of matter . Since the gravitational force is experienced by all matter in the universe, from the largest galaxies down to the smallest particles, it is often called universal gravitation. (Based upon observations of distant supernovas around the turn of the 21st cent., a repulsive force, termed dark energy , that opposes the self-attraction of matter has been proposed to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe.) Sir Isaac Newton was the first to fully recognize that the force holding any object to the earth is the same as the force holding the moon, the planets, and other heavenly bodies in their orbits. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the force between any two bodies is directly proportional to the product of their masses (see mass ) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The constant of proportionality in this law is known as the gravitational constant; it is usually…
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Full text Article gravitation

From The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics
The tendency of all material bodies to attract one another. The mutual attraction between bodies is considered as a force - the gravitational force - that acts between the bodies and arises because the bodies possess mass. The force decreases as the distance between the bodies increases. This was…
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Full text Article gravitation

From The Penguin Dictionary of Physics
The mutual attraction of all bodies, independent of electromagnetic, strong, or weak interactions. Galileo studied falling bodies (late 16th century) and introduced the concept of ACCELERATION . He argued that in a vacuum all bodies would have the same acceleration, that of FREE FALL . In 1687…
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Full text Article gravitation

From Collins Dictionary of Astronomy
The ability of all material bodies to attract each other. This mutual attraction, or gravitational force, is the most familiar force of nature and was first expressed in mathematical form by Isaac Newton. Newton's law of universal gravitation was published in 1687 in Principia. It states that the…
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Full text Article gravitation

From Philip's Encyclopedia
Force of attraction that is exercised by every particle of matter as a result of its mass . Gravitation is the weakest of the four fundamental forces , but it is apparent because of the great mass of the Earth. The Moon has only 1/6 of the Earth's gravitational force. Gravitation was first described…
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Full text Article gravitation

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
the attractive force existing between any two particles of matter . Since the gravitational force is experienced by all matter in the universe, from the largest galaxies down to the smallest particles, it is often called universal gravitation. (Based upon observations of distant supernovas around…
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Full text Article gravitation

From Science Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Space and Astronomy
Also known as: gravity The acceleration produced by the mutual attraction of two masses, directed along the line joining their centers of mass, and of magnitude inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two centers of mass. In classical physics the force of attraction (F g ) …
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Full text Article GRAVITATIONAL LENS

From Gaither's Dictionary of Scientific Quotations
No biographical data available No biographical data available “I know perfectly well that at this moment the whole universe is listening to us,” Jean Giraudoux wrote in The Madwoman of Chaillot, “and that every word we say echoes to the remotest star.” That poetic paranoia is a perfect description…
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Full text Article gravitational wave

From Astronomy Encyclopedia
Periodic disturbance in a gravitational field, which, according to EINSTEIN 's theory of GENERAL RELATIVITY , propagates through space at the speed of light. Any changes in a gravitational field are expected to travel at the speed of light so that, for example, if the Sun were to be annihilated, 8 m…
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Full text Article gravitational waves

From The Penguin Dictionary of Physics
Syn . gravitational radiation. Waves propagated at the speed of light on a GRAVITATIONAL FIELD generated by the acceleration of masses. Gravitational waves are predicted by the general theory of RELATIVITY , but as yet no direct evidence of their existence has been observed. Many attempts have been…
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Full text Article gravitational waves

From Collins Dictionary of Astronomy
Extremely weak wavelike disturbances that were predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity. They represent the radiation associated with the gravitational force, and are produced when massive bodies are accelerated or otherwise disturbed. They are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that…
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