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Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation Between any two objects of masses m1 and m2 at separation r from each other there exist attractive forces F AB and FBA directed from one body to the other and equal in magnitude Which is instantly proportional to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two,
mm FAB = FBA = G 12 2 r In vector form FAB = -FBA .
m1

FAB

FBA

m2

Where G is universal gravitational constant. G = 6.67 10 -11 Nm2 / kg2 Since G is very small, so its effect cannot be experienced in daily use. However in the case of celestial bodies which have very large masses, the forces of attraction are very large, In fact, in their case, this force provides the necessary centripetal force to keep them in specific orbits. Dimensional formula of G:
G=
2 MLT -2 Fr 2 L = M-1L3 T -2 = 2 m1m2 M

Vector form : Given by Newtons law of gravitation

Gm1m2 Gm1m2 Gm1m2 21 F12 r r21 3 r21 2 r r3 r21
Here minus sign shows that the direction of F12 is opposite to that of 21 . r

A m1 r

B m2

12 = r 21 = r

unit vector from A to B unit vector from B to A, force operated on body A by body B force operated on body B by body A

Gm1m2 Gm1m2 Gm1m2 12 r r12 3 r12 Similarly F21 2 r r3 r12

F12 = gravitational

Gm1m2 21 12 r 21 r r r2

F21 = gravitational

It is clear that F12 F21 . This is Newtons third law of motion.Here G is fixed value of proportionality which is called Universal gravitational constant. If m1 = m2 and r = 1 then G = F

i.e. universal gravitational constant is equal to the force of attraction between two bodies each of unit mass whose centers are placed unit distance apart. But if the two objects are uniform spheres then the separation r may be taken as the distance between their centers because a sphere of uniform mass behave as a point mass for any point lying outside it.