Definition of GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD Noun
A gravitational field is a concept in physics that describes the region around a massive object where the force of gravity influences the motion of other objects. This field is a fundamental aspect of classical mechanics and Einstein’s theory of general relativity, providing insights into the nature of gravity and its effects on celestial bodies and particles.
As a noun, a gravitational field refers to the space surrounding a massive object, such as a planet, star, or black hole, where the influence of gravity extends outward in all directions. It is characterized by the gravitational force exerted on objects within its domain, which attracts them towards the center of the massive body.
Magnitude of Force: The strength of the gravitational field is determined by the mass of the massive object and the distance from its center. Objects closer to the massive body experience a stronger gravitational force, while those farther away experience a weaker force.
Inverse-Square Law: Gravitational fields follow the inverse-square law, which states that the force of gravity decreases with the square of the distance between two objects. As objects move farther apart, the gravitational force between them diminishes rapidly.
Uniformity: In the vicinity of a spherically symmetric massive object, such as a planet or star, the gravitational field is approximately uniform, meaning that the strength and direction of the gravitational force remain constant at any given point within the field.
As an Adjective: As an adjective, gravitational describes anything related to or influenced by gravity or gravitational forces. It is used to characterize phenomena, objects, or fields that are subject to the effects of gravity.
In summary, a gravitational field as a noun refers to the region surrounding a massive object where gravitational forces are present, while as an adjective, gravitational describes anything influenced by gravity. Understanding gravitational fields and their effects is crucial for comprehending the behavior of celestial bodies and the structure of the universe.
Examples of GRAVITATIONAL FIELD in a sentence
- Objects with mass create a gravitational field that attracts other objects towards them.
- The strength of a planet’s gravitational field determines the acceleration due to gravity at its surface.
- The concept of a gravitational field was famously described by Isaac Newton in his law of universal gravitation.
- Einstein’s theory of general relativity revolutionized our understanding of the gravitational field by describing it as the curvature of spacetime.
- Satellites orbiting the Earth experience the effects of its gravitational field, which keep them in stable orbits.
- Black holes have an extremely intense gravitational field from which not even light can escape.
- Astronomers study the distribution of matter in the universe by observing the effects of its gravitational field on light and other cosmic phenomena.
- Detecting anomalies in a planet’s gravitational field can provide insights into its internal structure and composition.
Origin of GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
The term gravitational field has its linguistic roots in Latin and Greek, reflecting the historical development of concepts related to gravity and spatial influence.
- Latin Roots: The term “gravitational” originates from the Latin word “gravitas,” which means “weight” or “heaviness.” This term evolved over time to encompass the broader concept of gravity, referring to the natural force of attraction that exists between all objects with mass.
- Greek Influence: The term “field” derives from the Greek word “pédoma,” which originally referred to a flat stretch of land or a plain. In the context of physics, the term evolved to denote a region of influence or effect surrounding a physical quantity, such as an electric or magnetic field.
- Integration into English: The integration of these Latin and Greek elements into English occurred gradually over centuries, as scientific understanding and terminology evolved. The term “gravitational field” likely entered the English lexicon in the context of Newtonian mechanics during the 17th and 18th centuries, following Isaac Newton’s formulation of the law of universal gravitation.
The term gravitational field thus represents a linguistic fusion of Latin and Greek elements, reflecting the historical development of scientific concepts related to gravity and spatial influence. From its ancient roots in Latin and Greek to its modern usage in English, the term continues to play a crucial role in describing the fundamental forces that govern the behavior of objects in the universe.
Synonyms
- Gravity well
- Gravitational force
- Attraction field
- Gravitational pull
- Celestial force
- Mass influence
- Weight force
- Gravitational effect
Antonyms
- Weightlessness
- Gravitational repulsion
- Anti-gravity
- Levitation
- Zero gravity
- Gravitational independence
- Null gravity
- Weightless condition
Related
- Gravitational acceleration
- Escape velocity
- Orbital motion
- Gravitational constant
- Geodesic motion
- Celestial mechanics
- Newton’s law of gravitation
- General relativity
🌐 🇬🇧 GRAVITATIONAL FIELD in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Campo gravitacional |
| French 🇫🇷 | Champ gravitationnel |
| German 🇩🇪 | Schwerkraftfeld |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 引力场 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 重力場 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Campo gravitazionale |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Campo gravitacional |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Zwaartekracht veld |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Gravitations fält |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Gravitasjonsfelt |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | Gravitaatiokenttä |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | Câmp gravitațional |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Pole grawitacyjne |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Gravitációs mező |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Gravitační pole |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Гравитационно поле |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Гравітаційне поле |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Гравитационное поле |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | Yerçekimi alanı |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Qravitasiya sahəsi |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Գրավիտացիոն դաշտ |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | مجال الجاذبية |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | שדה כבידה |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | کشش ثقل کا میدان |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | میدان گرانشی |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | गुरुत्वाकर्षण क्षेत्र |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | মহাকর্ষীয় ক্ষেত্র |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | गुरुत्वाकर्षण क्षेत्र |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | గురుత్వాకర్షణ క్షేత్రం |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | ஈர்ப்பு புலம் |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | ગુરુત્વાકર્ષણ ક્ષેત્ર |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಗುರುತ್ವಾಕರ್ಷಣೆಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ମାଧ୍ୟାକର୍ଷଣ କ୍ଷେତ୍ର | |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | ഗുരുത്വാകർഷണ മണ്ഡലം |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਗਰੈਵੀਟੇਸ਼ਨਲ ਫੀਲਡ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | ගුරුත්වාකර්ෂණ ක්ෂේත්රය |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | गुरुत्वाकर्षण क्षेत्र |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | Gravitational Field |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | สนามโน้มถ่วง |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Trường hấp dẫn |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | Medan Graviti |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Medan Gravitasi |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Gravitational Field |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 重力場 |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 중력장 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Dirree Harkisaa |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Goobta Cufisjiidadka |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | የስበት መስክ |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Uwanja wa Mvuto |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Oko Walẹ |