Why is the Sun's Gravitational Force Less Than That of the Earth?

why doesn't the sun's gravitational force affect me more than earth does?
- manal (age 14)
Omaha,NE

Hello Manal,

Newton's Law of universal gravition is F = GM₁ M₂ / R^{2 .}   This law has been experimentally verified many, many times.   Although the sun has a much larger mass than the earth,  M_s /M_e  = 3.3 x10⁵  it's distance ratio squared  (R_s^/R_e)² =  3.3 x 10⁸  dominates the ratio of the forces.    There is, however, a small observable effect of the sun's gravity at the surface of the earth in its effect on the ocean tides.    The moon, being much closer, has a much larger tidal effect.

LeeH

 

(published on 05/08/2016)