The Universal Gravitational Constant, symbolized as "G," is a fundamental physical constant that quantifies the strength of the gravitational force between two objects. It is expressed in the units of N•m²/kg², and it is equal to approximately 6.67430 × 10−11 m³⋅kg⁻¹⋅s⁻². The IPA phonetic transcription of the word "universal gravitational constant" is [ˌjunɪˈvɝsəl ɡɹævɪˈteɪʃənəl ˈkɑnstənt], with stress on the second syllable of "gravitational" and the first syllable of "constant."
The universal gravitational constant, denoted by the symbol G, is a fundamental physical constant that quantifies the strength of the force of gravity. It appears in Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
The value of the universal gravitational constant is approximately 6.67430 × 10^-11 cubic meters per kilogram per second squared. Its units are derived from Newton's second law of motion, which relates force to mass and acceleration.
The significance of the universal gravitational constant lies in its role in determining the magnitude of gravitational force between celestial bodies. It allows scientists to calculate and predict the gravitational interactions between planets, stars, galaxies, and other astronomical objects. By knowing the masses of objects and the distance between them, the universal gravitational constant enables the prediction of gravitational forces.
Measured through precise experiments, the value of the universal gravitational constant has been refined over time to increase the accuracy of gravitational calculations. Its determination is crucial for understanding various phenomena in physics, such as orbital motion, tides, and cosmology. Despite its fundamental nature, the universal gravitational constant remains a subject of ongoing research, as scientists continue to explore its connections to cosmological theories, quantum gravity, and the nature of space-time itself.