Difference Between Gravitation and Gravity

Difference Between Gravitation and Gravity - A Complete Guide

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 04:45 PM IST

In this article we are going to learn about gravity, gravitation force , difference between gravity and gravitation and many more. In Physics, the terms gravitation and gravity are extremely similar. In most cases, these two terms are used interchangeably. Despite the fact that these two words sound similar, there is a distinction between gravitation and gravity. The active force between two bodies is gravity. Gravity, on the other hand, is the force that exists between an object and the very large object known as the earth. Gravitation is also defined as a force that is proportional to the product of the masses of both objects. Furthermore, it is inversely proportional to the square of their distance. Gravity is commonly thought of as a natural feature of the earth that causes objects to gravitate toward it.

This Story also Contains

What exactly is Gravity?
What is Gravitation?
What is difference between gravity and gravitation?

Difference Between Gravitation and Gravity - A Complete Guide

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What exactly is Gravity?

Every mass-bearing object exerts gravitational force on all other mass-bearing objects.

The magnitude of this force and its strength are determined by the masses of the objects in question.

The planets' orbits around the sun are kept in motion by gravity.

As a result, we can define gravity as a force that pulls a body toward the earth's core.

Gravity is a universally acknowledged phenomenon that plays a critical role in the survival of life on Earth.

Because of the gravitational attraction between the earth and the sun, the atmosphere is retained on our planet.

As a result, it is the reason for the air that humans need to breathe in order to survive. Not only that, but it also keeps us from getting too close to the sun. If somebody wants to know what is gravity in hindi than it is गुरुत्व

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What is Gravitation?

The force of attraction between any two bodies in the universe is known as gravity.

Each thing in our universe draws another with a certain amount of force.

However, due to the feeble nature of this force, we are frequently unable to detect it.

Its feeble character is primarily due to the wide separation distance.

However, gravity's range is thought to be infinite.

Sir Isaac Newton, a well-known physicist, was the first to notice it.

In the year 1680, he published his seminal law of gravitation, Newton's law.

In reality, gravitation is caused by the attraction of objects to the earth.

If somebody wants to know what is gravitational force in hindi than it is गुरुत्वाकर्षण

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What is difference between gravity and gravitation?

To know how is gravitation different from gravity the following points are consider:

The main distinction between gravitation and gravity is that gravitational force happens between two objects that are either different or identical.

The gravitational force acts between the earth's surface and any object.
The gravitational force operating between two things is far weaker than the force of gravity.
Depending on the direction of travel, the gravitational pull can be either attracting or repulsive.

However, because the object's mass is so small in comparison to the mass of the earth, the force of gravity is solely attracting.

As a result, the object is drawn to the earth's surface.

The gravitational force is a universal force, whereas the gravitational force is a derived force that varies from location to place.

When computing the gravitational force acting between two objects numerically, it is necessary to know the masses of both bodies.

In the case of determining the force of gravity, however, only the mass of the item must be calculated.

So, This upper points describe the difference between force of gravity and gravitational force or it gives the solution for what is the difference between gravitation and gravity.

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Conclusion

So, based on the preceding description, gravitation and gravity are nearly identical in the sense that both are defined by the force operating between two bodies.

It is self-evident that the gravitational force between two objects separated by a certain distance will always be gravitational.

It will be the force of gravity between them if one of the objects is the earth.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly do you mean when you say "gravity" and "gravitation"?

Because of the force of attraction that exists between everything with mass or energy, the terms gravity and gravitation are frequently misunderstood.

We can say that the force of gravity is the pull of an item toward the Earth, and that gravitation is the broad term for this fundamental force.

2. What is the difference between gravity and gravitation?

The main distinction between gravitation and gravity is that gravitational force happens between two objects that are either different or identical.

The gravitational force acts between the earth's surface and any object.

The gravitational force operating between two things is far weaker than the force of gravity.

These are the difference between gravity and gravitational force.

3. Is Gravitation a Repelling or Attractive Force?

Both theories are based on Newton's General Theory of Relativity, which states that the gravitational force is solely attracting.

However, the quantization of gravity demonstrates that gravitational force can also be repulsive.

4. What is the gravity speed on the earth's surface?

The acceleration of free-falling objects is used to calculate gravity.

The acceleration of gravity at the earth's surface is approximately 9.8 metres per second.

5. Why do we feel lighter on the equator than we do at the North Pole?

The reason for this is that there is higher centrifugal force at the equator, which cancels out gravity's impact.

As a result, the equator has a lower overall weight than the poles.

6. Distinguish between g and G?/ difference between gravitational constant and acceleration due to gravity.

Gravitational acceleration ( g )

The acceleration gained by a body in free fall as a result of the gravitational pull.

It will differ from one location to the next.

Value of g=9.8 m/s²

Constant of Universal Gravitation ( G )

The attraction between two bodies of equal mass separated by an equal distance in any part of the universe.

Anywhere in the universe, there is a constant.

Value of G=6.673×10-11 Nm²/kg²

7. Difference between frictional force and gravitational force

When the surface of one object comes into touch with the surface of another, frictional force acts to prevent motion.

Alternatively...

The gravitational force exists between any two objects in the cosmos.

8. What is mars gravity vs earth gravity?

Gravity of earth is 2.66 times that of mars while gravity of mars is 0.375 that of earth.

9. How does Earth's rotation affect the apparent gravity we experience?

Earth's rotation creates a centrifugal effect that slightly counteracts gravity, making objects appear lighter at the equator than at the poles. This effect is small but measurable, causing about a 0.3% difference in apparent weight between the equator and poles.

10. How does air resistance affect our perception of gravity on Earth?

Air resistance opposes the motion of falling objects, making them appear to fall more slowly than they would in a vacuum. This effect is more noticeable on lighter or less dense objects, creating the illusion that they're less affected by gravity, when in fact, it's just air resistance slowing them down.

11. How does the concept of gravitational potential energy relate to gravity?

Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field. It represents the work done against gravity to bring an object to that position. This concept is crucial in understanding energy transformations in gravitational systems.

12. What is the difference between 'free fall' and 'weightlessness'?

Free fall is the motion of an object solely under the influence of gravity, while weightlessness is the sensation of having no apparent weight. An object in free fall experiences weightlessness because all its parts are accelerating at the same rate, eliminating the sensation of weight.

13. Why doesn't the Moon fall into Earth despite Earth's gravitational pull?

The Moon is in a stable orbit because its tangential velocity balances Earth's gravitational pull. It's constantly falling towards Earth, but its sideways motion causes it to miss the planet, resulting in a circular orbit. This balance demonstrates how gravity shapes celestial motions.

14. Why don't smaller objects, like apples, create noticeable gravitational effects?

All objects with mass create gravitational fields, but the strength of gravity depends on mass. Smaller objects have such tiny masses compared to Earth that their gravitational effects are negligible and overshadowed by Earth's gravity in everyday situations.

15. Can gravity be shielded or blocked like other forces?

Unlike electromagnetic forces, gravity cannot be shielded or blocked. It penetrates all matter and is always attractive. This property makes gravity unique among fundamental forces and contributes to its dominance over large scales in the universe.

16. How does mass differ from weight, and how are they related to gravity?

Mass is a measure of an object's amount of matter and is constant, while weight is the force exerted on that mass due to gravity. Weight changes with gravity's strength, but mass remains the same. On Earth, an object's weight is its mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²).

17. Why do objects of different masses fall at the same rate in a vacuum?

This phenomenon, known as the universality of free fall, occurs because the gravitational force on an object is proportional to its mass. The greater mass experiences more force but also has more inertia, resulting in the same acceleration for all objects regardless of their mass.

18. How does the distance between objects affect gravitational force?

Gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance between objects. This inverse square relationship means that doubling the distance reduces the force to one-fourth, tripling it reduces to one-ninth, and so on, explaining why gravity weakens rapidly over distance.

19. What is the fundamental difference between gravitation and gravity?

Gravitation is the universal force of attraction between all masses in the universe, while gravity specifically refers to the force of attraction between an object and Earth (or any other celestial body). Gravitation is the broader concept, while gravity is its manifestation in a specific context.

20. Why do we feel gravity but not gravitation in our daily lives?

We feel gravity because it's the force we experience due to Earth's mass. Gravitation between everyday objects is too weak to notice. The gravitational force depends on mass, and Earth's mass is enormously larger than objects around us, making its effect dominant in our daily experience.

21. If gravity is weaker than other fundamental forces, why does it dominate on large scales?

Gravity is the weakest fundamental force, but it's always attractive and has an infinite range. Unlike other forces that can be attractive or repulsive and often cancel out, gravity accumulates over large distances and masses, becoming the dominant force on cosmic scales.

22. How does the concept of gravitational field relate to gravity and gravitation?

A gravitational field is a model used to describe how gravitation acts through space. It represents the gravitational influence at every point around a mass. The strength of gravity at any point is determined by the gravitational field at that location.

23. How does Einstein's theory of general relativity change our understanding of gravity?

Einstein's theory describes gravity not as a force, but as a curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. This view explains gravity's effects more accurately than Newton's theory, especially in extreme conditions like near black holes or in cosmic-scale events.

24. What are gravitational waves, and how do they relate to Einstein's theory?

Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by accelerating masses, as predicted by Einstein's general relativity. They propagate at the speed of light and carry information about gravitational interactions, providing a new way to observe the universe.

25. How does gravity affect time, according to general relativity?

General relativity predicts that gravity causes time dilation: time passes more slowly in stronger gravitational fields. This effect, though small on Earth, becomes significant near massive objects like black holes and has been confirmed by precise atomic clocks.

26. What is the role of dark matter in our understanding of gravity?

Dark matter was proposed to explain gravitational effects observed in galaxies and galaxy clusters that can't be accounted for by visible matter alone. It challenges our understanding of gravity and suggests there might be unseen mass influencing large-scale structures in the universe.

27. What is the concept of gravitational time dilation?

Gravitational time dilation is the phenomenon where time passes more slowly in stronger gravitational fields. This effect, predicted by general relativity, has been observed and measured using precise atomic clocks at different altitudes on Earth.

28. What is the concept of gravitational binding energy?

Gravitational binding energy is the energy required to disassemble a gravitationally bound system into infinitely separated particles. It represents the energy stored in the gravitational field of a system. This concept is important in understanding the stability and evolution of stars and planets.

29. How does gravity affect the rate of chemical reactions?

Gravity can affect chemical reactions indirectly by influencing convection currents and the distribution of reactants. In microgravity environments, like on space stations, some reactions proceed differently due to the absence of gravity-driven convection and sedimentation.

30. What is the relationship between gravity and pressure in fluids?

Gravity creates a pressure gradient in fluids, with pressure increasing with depth. This relationship is described by the hydrostatic equation and explains phenomena like water pressure increasing as you dive deeper in a pool or atmospheric pressure decreasing with altitude.

31. How does the concept of gravitational slingshot work?

A gravitational slingshot uses a planet's gravity and motion to accelerate a spacecraft. As the craft approaches the planet, it gains kinetic energy from the planet's motion. By carefully choosing the approach trajectory, the spacecraft can emerge from the encounter with increased speed relative to the Sun.

32. What is the concept of gravitational redshift?

Gravitational redshift occurs when light moving out of a gravitational field loses energy, increasing its wavelength and shifting towards the red end of the spectrum. This effect, predicted by general relativity, has been observed in light from massive stars and is significant near black holes.

33. How does the concept of gravitational potential relate to orbits?

Gravitational potential is the potential energy per unit mass in a gravitational field. In orbital mechanics, it's used to calculate the energy of orbits. The shape and stability of an orbit depend on the total energy of the system, which includes both kinetic and gravitational potential energy.

34. What is the concept of gravitational time delay?

Gravitational time delay, also known as Shapiro delay, is the extra time it takes for light or radio signals to travel through a gravitational field. This effect, predicted by general relativity, has been measured in the solar system and is important in precise astronomical observations and GPS systems.

35. How do tides relate to gravitation?

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun on Earth's oceans. The difference in gravitational force across Earth's diameter creates tidal bulges, demonstrating gravitation's effects on a large scale.

36. What is the gravitational constant (G), and why is it important?

The gravitational constant (G) is a fundamental physical constant used in the calculation of gravitational forces. It determines the strength of gravity throughout the universe. Measuring G accurately is crucial for understanding gravity's behavior and for precise scientific calculations.

37. Why is gravity considered both the weakest and the most pervasive force?

Gravity is the weakest of the four fundamental forces at the atomic scale, but it's the most pervasive because it's always attractive and has infinite range. Its weakness allows for the existence of structures like atoms and humans, while its pervasiveness shapes the large-scale structure of the universe.

38. How does the principle of equivalence in general relativity relate gravity to acceleration?

The equivalence principle states that the effects of gravity are indistinguishable from the effects of acceleration in a small region of spacetime. This principle forms the basis of general relativity and explains why all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass.

39. What is a gravitational lens, and how does it demonstrate gravity's effect on light?

A gravitational lens occurs when a massive object bends light from a distant source around it, acting like a lens. This phenomenon, predicted by general relativity, demonstrates that gravity affects not just matter but also light, providing evidence for the curvature of spacetime.

40. How does the concept of escape velocity relate to gravity?

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs to break free from a body's gravitational influence without further propulsion. It depends on the mass of the body and the distance from its center. This concept is crucial in space exploration and understanding the formation of atmospheres.

41. How do black holes extreme gravity affect our understanding of physics?

Black holes, with their extreme gravitational fields, push our understanding of physics to its limits. They create conditions where general relativity and quantum mechanics clash, potentially offering insights into a unified theory of quantum gravity.

42. What is the difference between inertial mass and gravitational mass?

Inertial mass is a measure of an object's resistance to acceleration, while gravitational mass determines the strength of an object's gravitational attraction. The equivalence of these two types of mass is a fundamental principle in physics and a key aspect of general relativity.

43. How does gravity affect the path of light?

Gravity bends the path of light, a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This effect is most noticeable near massive objects like galaxies or black holes. It demonstrates that gravity affects not just matter but also massless particles like photons, as predicted by general relativity.

44. How does the shape of spacetime relate to gravity?

According to general relativity, gravity is not a force but a consequence of the curvature of spacetime. Massive objects create dips or curves in the fabric of spacetime, and what we perceive as gravitational attraction is actually objects following the most direct path through this curved space.

45. Why doesn't gravity pull the atmosphere away from Earth?

The atmosphere stays on Earth due to a balance between gravity and the kinetic energy of gas molecules. Gravity pulls air molecules towards Earth's center, while their thermal motion prevents them from collapsing. This balance creates a pressure gradient in the atmosphere, with density decreasing with altitude.

46. How does gravity affect the formation and evolution of galaxies?

Gravity plays a crucial role in galaxy formation and evolution by causing gas and dust to collapse into dense regions, forming stars and planetary systems. On larger scales, it governs the interactions between galaxies, leading to mergers and the formation of galaxy clusters.

47. What is the difference between weight on Earth and in space?

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. On Earth, it's the product of mass and the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²). In space, far from any massive body, objects experience weightlessness because they're in free fall, but they still have mass.

48. How does the principle of least action relate to gravitation?

The principle of least action states that the path taken by a system between two points is the one that minimizes the action. In gravitation, this principle explains why objects follow curved paths in gravitational fields, providing an alternative way to derive the equations of motion.

49. What is the role of gravity in star formation?

Gravity is the driving force behind star formation. It causes interstellar gas and dust to collapse, increasing density and temperature until nuclear fusion begins. The balance between gravity and the outward pressure from fusion reactions determines a star's stability throughout its life.

50. How does gravity affect the shape of large celestial bodies?

Gravity tends to pull matter into a spherical shape in large celestial bodies. This effect, known as hydrostatic equilibrium, occurs when an object's self-gravity overcomes the strength of its material. It's why planets and large moons are roughly spherical, while smaller bodies can have irregular shapes.

51. What is the difference between artificial gravity and true gravity?

True gravity is the force of attraction between masses, while artificial gravity is the sensation of weight created by acceleration or rotation. Artificial gravity in a rotating space station, for example, mimics the effects of true gravity but is actually a centrifugal effect.

52. How does gravity affect the formation of planetary rings?

Planetary rings form within a planet's Roche limit, where tidal forces prevent particles from coalescing into larger bodies. Gravity from the planet keeps the ring particles in orbit, while gravitational interactions between ring particles maintain the ring structure and create intricate patterns.

53. How does gravity affect the shape of orbits?

The shape of an orbit is determined by the balance between an object's velocity and the gravitational pull of the central body. Circular orbits occur when these forces are perfectly balanced. Elliptical orbits result when the velocity is either too high or too low for a circular orbit at that distance.

54. What is the role of gravity in the water cycle on Earth?

Gravity plays a crucial role in the water cycle by pulling water vapor down as precipitation, driving the flow of rivers and streams, and causing groundwater to move towards lower elevations. It's essential for the distribution of water across Earth's surface and within its atmosphere.

55. What is the difference between gravitational force and gravitational field strength?

Gravitational force is the attractive force between two masses, while gravitational field strength (or acceleration due to gravity) is the force per unit mass at a point in space. Field strength depends only on the source mass and distance, while force also depends on the mass being acted upon.

56. How does gravity affect the formation of ocean currents?

Gravity drives ocean currents through its effect on water density. Cold, dense water sinks while warmer, less dense water rises, creating convection currents. These density differences, combined with Earth's rotation, drive large-scale ocean circulation patterns crucial for global climate regulation.

57. How does gravity affect the process of planet formation?

Gravity is the primary force driving planet formation. It causes dust and gas in protoplanetary disks to clump together, forming planetesimals that further combine into planets. The final size and composition of a planet depend on the amount of material available and the strength of the star's gravity.

58. What is the relationship between gravity and the event horizon of a black hole?

The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. It marks the point where the escape velocity equals the speed of light. The size of the event horizon is directly related to the black hole's mass and demonstrates the extreme effects of gravity in these cosmic objects.