Blog #2 - Favorite Physics Equation

My favorite physics formula is, as my grandfather would say, an oldie but a goodie.

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation, or better known as: \[ F = \frac{GM_1M_2}{d^2} \]

I find the formula so amazing because of the relevancy of its application 330 years after Newton first published his theorem. Although Newton was working with primitive instruments to try and map celestial bodies at the time, his laws still hold *somewhat* true with regard to exoplanet research, advanced satellite orbits, and literally any interaction between large bodies. Einstein may have improved on the Law of Gravitation, but Newton's original findings were held as law until the mid 1900's giving him nearly 200 years of command over how astronomy developed. The other beautiful part of Newton's Law of Gravitation is its simplicity. With a constant and 3 terms, he was able to describe the speed, force, and even planetary orbits (after some rearranging). The Law allows students and experts alike to understand incredibly complex and overwhelming systems between stars and planets and asteroids and moons with general accuracy while only having information about their masses and distances. Newton paved the way for the future of astronomy and astrophysics.