Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 31

gravitational constant

A fundamental constant, symbol G, value 6·673 × 10?11Nm²/kg², which measures the strength of gravitation. It is a constant of proportionality in Newton's law of gravity, and also appears in equations of general relativity.

According to the law of universal gravitation, the attractive force between two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

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