Gravitational Force - GCSE Physics Definition

Gravitational force is a fundamental force of nature that pulls objects towards each other. It is responsible for the attraction between masses, such as the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun or causes objects to fall towards the Earth. The strength of the gravitational force depends on two factors: the masses of the objects involved and the distance between their centres. The larger the masses or the closer they are to each other, the stronger the gravitational force. In the context of GCSE Physics, understanding gravitational force helps students explore concepts like weight, which is the force of gravity acting on an object's mass, and how it differs from mass itself.