Does More Mass Reduce Gravity According to F=mg?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation of the equation F=mg and its implications regarding mass and gravity. Participants explore the relationship between mass, gravitational force, and acceleration, questioning whether an increase in mass leads to a decrease in gravitational acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether more mass results in greater gravity, leading to confusion when rearranging the equation to F/m=g.
  • Another participant clarifies that F/m=g indicates that the acceleration due to gravity remains constant regardless of mass, provided the force is considered in a gravitational field.
  • This clarification suggests that the initial assumption of constant force leading to inverse relationships between mass and gravity is flawed.
  • A later reply expresses gratitude for the clarification, indicating that the explanation resolved their confusion.
  • Another participant questions the use of the term "binked" and suggests that the discussion might be more appropriate for a general physics forum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the initial interpretation of the equation, but there is agreement on the clarification that gravitational acceleration does not decrease with increasing mass when considering the force in a gravitational field.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights assumptions about the constancy of force and the implications of mass on gravitational acceleration, which remain unresolved in terms of broader contexts or definitions.

FUNKER
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ok this may seem stupid to the experienced but it has bothered me for a while.
the Equation F=mg
is it not true that the more mass u have the greater the graviety u have?
and if this is true why then when the equation is rearranged
F/m=g therefore the greater mass you have the less Graviety u have?!
C'mon people the sky is falling the sky is falling

Peace
 
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No, F/m=g doesn't say more mass->less gravity, it says given the force on a mass in a gravitational field and the amount of mass, there is so much acceleration. Given:
F=mg
then it should be obvious that:
F/m=(mg)/m=(m/m)g=(1)g=g
The problem in your reasoning is that you make the assumption that the force is constant as the mass increases, and this leads you to the contradictary conclusion. As shown above, the force varies with the mass, so that the answer will always be the same in a given gravitational field where the test mass is small enough not to cause any consequential movement in the tested mass (Earth).
However, if your assumption was right, and the force on a mass was constant and independent of the amount of mass, then g would vary inversly with the size of the mass, which means that greater masses would fall slower. But they don't, so it's not.
 
Last edited:
thanks for clearing that up that makes logical sense and you have solved an ongoing saga for me
I guess the sky isn't falling[b(]
it was like i was the first one out the boat on D-Day
i got Binked
thanks
regards
 
I don't know what 'binked' means, and for future reference, something like this should be in the general physics forum.
 

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