The strength of this force depends on the gravitational constant. Denoted by a ‘G’, it is a fundamental physical constant. In Newton’s theory, the gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. G is the proportionality constant. The precise value of G is crucial to understand celestial mechanics and to determine the mass of celestial bodies.

Source: The Hindu October 30, 2023 15:24 UTC