What term describes the force of attraction between two or more masses?

Prepare for the HSC Physics Exam with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes detailed hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The correct term that describes the force of attraction between two or more masses is gravity. Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that acts on all objects with mass, causing them to attract one another. For instance, this force is what keeps planets in orbit around stars, and it is responsible for the weight of an object on the Earth's surface.

Weight, while related to gravity, specifically refers to the gravitational force exerted on an object due to its mass and the acceleration due to gravity at that location, rather than the general attraction between masses. Friction, on the other hand, deals with the resistance that occurs when two surfaces move against each other and is not related to the attraction between masses. Mass is simply a measure of the amount of matter in an object and does not directly describe the force of attraction. Thus, gravity is the most precise term for the attraction between two or more masses.

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