gravitational attraction
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The force of attraction between all masses in the universe: "gravitational attraction" is the fundamental physical force by which all objects with mass are drawn toward one another.
- Specifically, the attraction exerted by a celestial body like Earth: It commonly refers to the specific instance of this force, such as the Earth's pull on objects near its surface, which gives them weight.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The moon orbits the Earth due to gravitational attraction.
- Gravitational attraction is what causes an apple to fall from a tree.
- The gravitational attraction between two stars determines their orbital paths.
Advanced Usage
- "Law of universal gravitation": The scientific principle, formulated by Isaac Newton, which describes gravitational attraction mathematically.
- Newton's law of universal gravitation quantifies gravitational attraction.
- To describe a weak or negligible force:
- The gravitational attraction between two people is infinitesimally small.
Variants and Related Words
- Gravitation (n): Often used synonymously with "gravitational attraction" to mean the same force or the phenomenon itself.
- The theory of gravitation revolutionized physics.
- Gravity (n): In everyday language, often used interchangeably with "gravitational attraction," especially regarding the force near Earth's surface.
- The gravity on Mars is about 38% of Earth's.
- Gravitational force (n): A more technical term for the same concept.
- The spacecraft must overcome the planet's gravitational force.
Synonyms
- Gravity: The force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass.
- Gravitation: The movement, or a tendency to move, toward a center of gravitational force.
Related Phrases
- Gravitational pull: A phrase meaning the same as gravitational attraction.
- The gravitational pull of the black hole is immense.
- Gravitational field: The region of space surrounding a body in which another body experiences a force of gravitational attraction.
- Objects within a planet's gravitational field are pulled toward it.
Related Idioms
Noun
- (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
- the more remote the body the less the gravity
- the gravitation between two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
- gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love--Albert Einstein