How does gravity work on different planets?

Gravity works on all planets by the same fundamental principle: it is a force of attraction that pulls objects toward the center of a planet. The strength of this gravitational pull depends on the planet’s mass and radius. Here’s how gravity varies across different planets:

Key Factors Affecting Gravity

• Mass of the Planet:
  • Greater mass means stronger gravitational pull. Larger planets with more mass exert a stronger gravitational force.
• Radius of the Planet:
  • The distance from the planet’s center to its surface affects gravity. A planet with a larger radius spreads its gravitational force over a greater distance, weakening the surface gravity.
• Gravitational Constant:
  • The same constant, $GG$G, is used in the equation $F=G\frac{m_1{m}_2}{r^2}F\; =\; G\; \backslash frac\{m\_1\; m\_2\}\{r^2\}$F=Gr2m1​m2​​, where $FF$F is the gravitational force, $m_{1}m\_1$m1​ and $m_{2}m\_2$m2​ are the masses of two objects, and $rr$r is the distance between their centers.

Gravity on Different Planets

Explanation

• Lighter Planets (like Mercury and Mars) have lower gravity because they have less mass and often smaller radii.
• Heavier Planets (like Jupiter and Neptune) have stronger gravity due to their massive size.
• Despite its large size, Saturn has a gravity close to Earth’s because it is less dense.

The variation in gravity affects how objects fall, how much they weigh, and the way we move on different planets. For example, you would weigh much less on Mars than on Earth but much more on Jupiter.