Gravitational Force & Acceleration: What's the Difference?

AI Thread Summary
Gravitational force is defined as the attractive force between two objects, characterized by its inverse square relationship with distance, expressed by the formula F=GmM/r^2. In contrast, acceleration due to gravity refers to the effect of this force on a body, calculated using Newton's second law with the formula a=GM/r^2. The acceleration experienced by a smaller mass, like an apple, is significantly greater than that of a larger mass, such as Earth, which is often imperceptible. This distinction highlights how gravitational force and acceleration due to gravity operate differently based on mass and distance. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping the fundamentals of gravitational interactions.
ASidd
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Would I be correct in saying that gravitational force is the force of attraction between any two objects and has the following characteristics:
Attractive and the magnitude of the force is inversely proportional to square of distance between the two object
It is given by the formula F=GmM/r^2

On the other hand acceleration due to gravity deals with the effect of the gravitational force on a body. This effect is to accelerate a body according to Newton's second law and given by the formula a=GM/r^2
 
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ASidd said:
Would I be correct in saying that gravitational force is the force of attraction between any two objects and has the following characteristics:
Attractive and the magnitude of the force is inversely proportional to square of distance between the two object
It is given by the formula F=GmM/r^2

On the other hand acceleration due to gravity deals with the effect of the gravitational force on a body. This effect is to accelerate a body according to Newton's second law and given by the formula a=GM/r^2

That seems reasonable.
That acceleration you have calculated/given is for the body of mass m
The acceleration of the other body is of course a=Gm/r^2

IF the bodies have very different masses the smaller body, of course, has the larger acceleration.
Like when you drop an apple here on the Earth. The apple, with small mass, has quite an acceleration [9.8 ms-2 actually], while the large body [the Earth] has such a small acceleration that most people [all people?] don't even notice it.
 
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