Final answer:
The force of gravity acts on all objects with mass, being both universal and always attractive. Newton's law of gravitation explains its reliance on mass and distance, while also affecting space and time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force of attraction called gravity acts on any object with mass. Gravity is a fundamental force that explains why objects fall to the ground, why planets orbit the Sun, and much more. Newton's universal law of gravitation clarifies that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle. The gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Notably, gravity also influences space and time, which is evident in the study of general relativity. Massive bodies like the Sun can curve space and slow down time in their proximity. Even though gravity is the weakest of the fundamental forces, it is significant due to its universal property of always being attractive and its ability to act over vast distances.
Gravity is inherent to the very nature of mass, and the more mass an object has, the stronger its gravitational pull. For instance, the Earth exerts a gravitational force strong enough to dominate the gravitational interactions we experience daily. Yet, gravity never truly becomes zero—it simply decreases as the distance increases, maintaining its grip on objects across the universe.