Newtonian Gravitation, also known as Newton's law of universal gravitation, is a physical law that describes the gravitational attraction between masses. This theory was formulated by Sir Isaac Newton in the late 17th century and became a cornerstone in classical mechanics.
In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton published his work Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, commonly known as the "Principia". In this work, Newton introduced his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, which provided a unified explanation for both terrestrial gravity and celestial mechanics. His theory was revolutionary because it suggested that the same forces govern the motion of objects on Earth and the motions of celestial bodies, thereby unifying the heavens and the Earth in one physical law.
Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every point mass attracts every other point mass by a force acting along the line intersecting both points. The equation for this force is:
F = G * ((m1 * m2) / r^2)
While Newtonian Gravitation was incredibly successful in explaining many phenomena, it has limitations:
Newton's work laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and has been pivotal in engineering, astrophysics, and space exploration. Despite its limitations, Newtonian Gravitation remains highly relevant for calculations where relativistic effects are negligible. It also plays a fundamental role in education, providing an accessible entry point into the study of gravitational forces.