eli5: What is an inverse square force and how is gravity an inverse square force?
In: Physics
An inverse square force just means that the strength of the force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance. What that means is that G is proportional to 1 divided by the distance squared(the distance multiplied by itself).
So, if you are twice as far away as something, you feel 1/4 of the force due to gravity. If you are 3 times as far away, you feel 1/9 the force of gravity.
So, a practical consequence of this is when rockets get enough velocity, they can get far enough away that the gravity due to earth is negligible.
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