What is universal gravitation?

Universal gravitation refers to the fundamental force of attraction that exists between any two objects with mass. This force is described by Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that the gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

The correct answer highlights the principle that the gravitational attraction increases as the masses of the objects become larger. This means that more massive objects exert a stronger gravitational pull on each other, which has significant implications in various fields, including astronomy and physics, as it helps explain how planets, stars, and other celestial bodies interact within the universe.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the principles of universal gravitation. For instance, the idea that attraction is proportional to the distance contradicts the established inverse square law of gravity. The notion that gravitational attraction occurs only in outer space is misleading; gravity acts on all masses, regardless of location. Lastly, the assertion that attraction is independent of mass neglects the core premise that mass is a critical factor in determining gravitational force.