How Much Mass Required to Demonstrate Gravity?

In summary, the amount of mass required to demonstrate gravity depends on the context of the experiment or observation. For small-scale demonstrations, even objects with minimal mass can show gravitational attraction, such as two small balls. However, for significant gravitational effects to be observed, like those seen in planetary bodies, a much larger mass is necessary. The strength of gravity also scales with mass; thus, larger masses produce more noticeable gravitational forces. The fundamental relationship follows Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that gravity is proportional to the product of the masses involved and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
  • #1
Roman Mithman
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If one were to demonstrate gravity independent of earth's constant gravity, how could it be done? Assuming this would need to be done in space, what minimum proportions of mass would be required to demonstrate gravitational pull to a human's naked eye?
 
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  • #3
Two 10kg masses 1m apart in space and initially at rest would collide fairly quickly. Setting ##s=\frac 12\frac{GM}{r^2}t^2## gives an upper bound of about 8 hours (remembering each mass only needs to travel ##s=0.5\mathrm{m}##).

Of course, you need to arrange that the masses are initially stationary to better than 0.01mm/s, which is non trivial.
 
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Likes PeroK, russ_watters and Roman Mithman
  • #4
If it needs to be in space, far from the earth, and you need to see it with the unaided eye, it needs to be at least planet-sized. (Note that this is independent of measuring gravity)
 

FAQ: How Much Mass Required to Demonstrate Gravity?

1. What is the minimum mass required to demonstrate gravitational attraction?

There is no specific minimum mass required to demonstrate gravitational attraction, as gravity is a universal force that acts between any two masses. Even tiny masses, such as those of small objects, experience gravitational attraction, but the effects may be negligible and difficult to observe without sensitive instruments.

2. Can you demonstrate gravity with everyday objects?

Yes, you can demonstrate gravity with everyday objects. For example, dropping a ball and observing it fall to the ground illustrates the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the ball. This simple experiment shows that gravity acts on all masses, regardless of their size.

3. How does mass affect the strength of gravitational attraction?

The strength of gravitational attraction between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the force of gravity increases as the mass of either object increases. Thus, larger masses will exert a stronger gravitational pull on each other.

4. Is there a threshold mass for gravitational effects to be noticeable?

There is no strict threshold mass for gravitational effects to be noticeable, as gravity acts on all masses. However, the effects become more noticeable with larger masses. For example, the gravitational pull of planets and stars is significant due to their large mass, while the gravitational effect of small objects, like a pebble, is much weaker and often imperceptible without precise measurements.

5. How can we measure gravitational effects from small masses?

Gravitational effects from small masses can be measured using sensitive instruments such as torsion balances or gravimeters. These devices can detect minute changes in gravitational force, allowing scientists to study the gravitational attraction between small masses in controlled experiments.

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