The discussion clarifies the distinction between inertial mass and gravitational mass, emphasizing their equivalence as established by repeated experiments since the 17th century. Inertial mass determines an object's acceleration under an applied force, as described by Newton's second law of motion (F = MA). Gravitational mass, on the other hand, quantifies the attractive force between two masses, calculated using the formula Fg = GMAMBR/|R|³, where G is the universal gravitational constant (6.67×10−11 N kg−2m²). This foundational understanding is crucial for physics students and enthusiasts.
PREREQUISITESPhysics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding fundamental concepts of mass and force in classical mechanics.
The inertial mass of an object determines its acceleration in the presence of an applied force. According to Newton's second law of motion, if a body of fixed mass M is subjected to a force F, its acceleration α is given by F/M. A body's mass also determines the degree to which it generates or is affected by a gravitational field. If a first body of mass MA is placed at a distance R from a second body of mass MB, each body experiences an attractive force Fg = GMAMBR/|R|3, where G=6.67×10−11 N kg−2m2 is the "universal gravitational constant". This is sometimes referred to as gravitational mass.[note 1] Repeated experiments since the 17th century have demonstrated that inertial and gravitational mass are equivalent