For two bodies having masses m and M with a distance r between their centers of mass, the equation for Newton’s universal law of gravitation is
F = G mM /r2,
where F is the magnitude of the gravitational force and G is a proportionality factor called the universal gravitational constant.
G is a universal gravitational constant—that is, it is thought to be the same everywhere in the universe.
It has been measured experimentally to be
G = 6.674×10−11N⋅m2 / kg2
in SI units.
Note that the units of G are such that a force in newtons is obtained from F = G mM /r2, when considering masses in kilograms and distance in meters.
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