Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Gravitation refers to the natural phenomenon by which all objects with mass or energy attract each other with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Related terms
Universal Law of Gravitation: The universal law of gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Kepler's Laws: Johannes Kepler formulated three laws that describe planetary motion under gravitational influence. These laws provide insights into how objects move in elliptical orbits around a central mass.
Escape velocity is the minimum velocity an object needs to escape from the gravitational pull of another celestial body. It depends on both the mass and radius of the body.