Final answer:
The SI unit of gravitational force is the Newton (N), equivalent to kg·m/s². The gravitational constant G is 6.674 × 10-11 N·m²/kg², which helps determine the weak gravitational attraction between masses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The SI unit of gravitational force is the Newton (N), which is equivalent to kg·m/s². This unit is derived from Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the force exerted on an object is equal to the mass of the object times its acceleration (F = ma). In the context of gravity, the weight of an object is the gravitational force exerted on it, and this force is measured in newtons. For example, an object's weight on Earth is the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the object.
Additionally, the gravitational constant (G), which is used when calculating the gravitational force between two masses, is 6.674 × 10-11 N·m²/kg². So, for two 1.000 kg masses separated by 1.000 m, the gravitational force would be an incredibly small 6.674 × 10-11 N, emphasizing the weakness of gravitational forces at such scales.