Lecture 18: The Apple and the Moon - Newtonian Gravitation
What is Gravity? Starting with the properties of falling bodies first\nformulated by Galileo, Newton applied his three laws of motion to the\nproblem of Universal Gravitation. Newtonian Gravity is a mutually\nattractive force that acts at a distance between any two massive bodies.\nIts strength is proportional to the product of the two masses, and\ninversely proportional to the square of the distance between their\ncenters. We then compare the fall of an apple on the Earth to the orbit\nof the Moon, and show that the Moon is held in its orbit by the same\ngravity that works on the surface of the Earth. In effect, the Moon is\nperpetually "falling" around the Earth. Recorded 2007 Oct 15 in 1000\nMcPherson Lab on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University.