Question

Newton’s so-called “discovery” of gravity actually referrers to his statement that the force of gravitational attraction between two objects is proportional to the product of the masses of the objects and inversely proportional to the distance between them (in equation form this is F=Gm₁m₂/r²; where G is the Universal Gravitational constant).

1.Is this a law or model?

2.What would have to be present (or absent) to convert it to the other (model to law or law to model)?

Answer 1

This is a law.

Law represents a hypothesis which is tested over and over again and and the test may have conducted for many years. The key equation that describe s the gravitational attraction between two objects is known as Newtons law of gravity can be tested.

On the other hand model is used when hypothesis has limitations on its validity."Bohr model" never explains true nature of atoms but insights can be gained on quantum energy states of the atom.So one can use idealized models to initially grasp or analyse complex situations.