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Gravity — Why Everything Falls the Same Way - Leejohnston - 01-08-2026
## Gravity — Why Everything Falls the Same Way
### 1. The Equation
Force of gravity:
F = G × (m₁m₂) ÷ r²
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### 2. What Each Symbol Means
- F = gravitational force
- G = gravitational constant
- m₁, m₂ = masses
- r = distance between centres
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### 3. What the Equation Is Telling Us
Gravity depends on:
- how massive objects are
- how far apart they are
Distance matters a lot — it’s squared.
---
### 4. Where It Comes From (Intuition)
Gravity spreads out in space.
As distance increases, the same influence is spread over a larger area, so it weakens rapidly.
---
### 5. Worked Example
If distance doubles:
- gravity becomes **four times weaker**
This is why gravity drops off quickly with height.
---
### 6. Real-World Applications
- Planetary orbits
- Satellite motion
- Tides
- Astrophysics
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### 7. Common Misconceptions
- Heavier objects fall faster → false
- Gravity only exists near Earth → false
- Gravity is a force pulling downward → incomplete
---
### Try It Yourself
What happens to gravity if:
- distance triples?
- mass doubles?