Gravitational Forces


Gravitational forces refer to the attractive forces between two objects with mass. In space and astronautical engineering, gravitational forces play a crucial role in the motion of celestial bodies and spacecraft. The force of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the distance between them. Therefore, the gravitational force between two objects decreases as the distance between them increases. In space, gravitational forces are responsible for the motion of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. Engineers use gravitational forces to design spacecraft trajectories and to perform gravity-assist maneuvers. They also use gravitational forces to simulate the effects of gravity on spacecraft during testing. Understanding gravitational forces is essential for space exploration and for predicting the motion of celestial bodies.


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