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Ok boys and girls, would you like to think for a change?

How do you measure the gravitational force between two massive bodies (A star and it's planets, a planet and it's moons...)???

I don't need an exact example (but it would earn you kudos!), just the way to do it. :)

Posted 2 months ago

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There are others who can get much more accurate and complicated answers but here goes.
You need to know certian factors to measure the gravitaional force between two celestial bodies. Size is a small component but mass is a what makes the big difference. You can have a relitivily small star and have a huge mass inside that will create a much greater gravity well. Once you have measured the mass of each object,than you have to factor in the distance from each other and get a good estimation of how far thier perspective masses gravity wells extend out. Gravity decreases the farther out you get away fromt the item in question. than you have other gravitational forces of other nearby bodies to contend with which may or may not effect the gravity of one or both bodies in question. Once you have all the base factors in place than you can use that fancy math you learned in school to tell you what the significant gravity pull each body has on the other.
And this is the simple answer. Any realy astrophysisist could probley do this better but it takes a chapter of two in a book.

Posted 2 months ago

Other 10 Answers to Ok boys and girls, would you like to think for a change?

SweetPegasus	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 11:14AM It involves maths? I'm going to cry. Why do you want to know anyway? Are you going on holiday to space? Rated: +3Vote for this!
IdleTraveller	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 11:14AM ok, I was willing to think. But this involves maths and other such similar horrible stuff. No thinking for this girl! Rated: +2Vote for this!
Cosreal	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 10:50AM ooo.. I like you! Very Much! distance and size? Rated: +1Vote for this!
CrystalClear1	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 10:57AM the speed of light Rated: +1Vote for this!
Emptysoul30	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 10:59AM The gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. I think I remembered that correctly... Rated: +1Vote for this!
MystyMadness	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 11:00AM I think you would need a very long spring balance! Rated: +1Vote for this!
FreeThinkSphere	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 11:33AM Ask Albert Einstein about his string theory, That 'll blow your mind. Oh and how about learning about some quantum physics. Basically, the theory that there are multiple dimensions being lived parallel to our lives, each one of us, right now. Rated: +1Vote for this!
artistaeli	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 12:34PM Not sure but would love to know. I know it's something to do with mass and speed ( and possibly to do with distance and momentum). I know one theory is that if the earth stopped spinning, we would loose gravitational pull and it would effect time as we know it. I often wonder about magnetic pole shifts and if we might, one day, all float off into space or live our lives backwards. Rated: +1Vote for this!
IndyNudist	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 2:08PM I don't understand the question. What does "between to" mean, and how many massive bodies are we talking about. Rated: +1Vote for this!
darknight	Posted Sep 11th, 2009 at 2:15PM I was between two (to) massive bodies once, but I didn't weigh them or measure the speed at which the moved. Luckily the gravitational forces weren't strong enough to make draw them together, as I would have been crushed... Rated: +1Vote for this!

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