# Gravitational field
## MicroSim spec
### Parameters (tunable controls)
- `Mass M` · 1–100 · mass of the central body (field strength)
- `Grid density` · 5–30 · number of sampled field-arrow points per axis
- `Test-mass speed` · 0–20 · initial speed of a probe particle released in the field
### What animates
Field arrows point toward the central mass while a released test particle falls along a curved path.
### Learning objective
Visualize a gravitational field as a vector field and trace a test mass through it.
## Links (Wikipedia order)
<!-- injected from _registry/childlinks/Gravitational_field.json (2026-07-30T02:09:12Z) -->
`Acceleration` · `Christoffel_symbols` · `Classical_mechanics` · [[Density]] · [[Differential_equation]] · `Einstein_field_equations` · `Einstein_tensor` · `Entropic_gravity` · `Equations_of_motion` · `Equivalence_principle` · `Fictitious_force` · `Field_(physics)` · `Fluid` · [[Force]] · `Gauss's_law_for_gravity` · `General_relativity` · `Gradient` · `Gravitational_acceleration` · `Gravitational_constant` · `Gravitational_energy` · `Gravitational_potential` · `Gravitational_wave` · `Gravity` · `Gravity_map` · `Gravity_of_Earth` · [[Isaac_Newton]] · `Kilogram` · `Mass` · `Metric_tensor` · `Metric_tensor_(general_relativity)` · `Newton's_law_of_universal_gravitation` · [[Newton's_laws_of_motion]] · `Newton_(unit)` · [[Physics]] · `Pierre-Simon_Laplace` · `Poisson's_equation` · `Potential_energy` · `Proper_time` · `Radiation` · `Richard_Feynman` · `Rita_G._Lerner` · `Second` · `Spacetime` · `Spatial_gradient` · `Specific_force` · `Speed_of_gravity` · `Speed_of_light` · `Sphere_of_influence_(astrodynamics)` · `Steven_Weinberg` · `Stress–energy_tensor` · `Test_particle` · `Tests_of_general_relativity` · `Time` · `Unit_of_measurement` · `University_of_Chicago_Press` · `Vector_field` · `Wiley-VCH`
## From the Real GENERATIVE library
*Gravitational field — placed from the Real G.E.N.E.R.A.T.I.V.E. course library (Engineering room). Source: Wikimedia Commons (via Wikipedia article media). [Details & license](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-moon-field.svg).*
> In physics, a gravitational field or gravitational acceleration field is a vector field used to explain the influences that a body extends into the space around itself.[1] A gravitational field is used to explain gravitational phenomena, such as the gravitational force field exerted on another massive body. It has dimension of acceleration (L/T2) and it is m ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_field))
<!-- REAL-GENERATIVE-MEDIA:END -->
> p5.js MicroSim stub · part of Systems Engineering · [Wikipedia source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_field)
## Concept summary
In [[Physics|physics]], a gravitational field or gravitational acceleration field is a vector field used to explain the influences that a body extends into the space around itself. A gravitational field is used to explain gravitational phenomena, such as the gravitational force field exerted on another massive body.
## Build checklist
- [ ] Claim it: set `status: in-progress` + `lease` + `leased_at`
- [ ] Write the child page explaining the concept (tie it back to Systems Engineering)
- [ ] Finalize parameter ranges and defaults
- [ ] Implement the p5.js sketch (drawing + control regions)
- [ ] Add caption + the learning objective on the page
- [ ] Set `status: done`
## p5.js sketch
```javascript
// MicroSim: Gravitational field
const ARTICLE = "Gravitational_field";
let p1, p2, p3;
function setup() {
createCanvas(720, 520);
pixelDensity(2);
// vector-field sim — create the three sliders described above:
// Mass M (1–100), Grid density (5–30), Test-mass speed (0–20).
// TODO: build labelled sliders in the control region (below the drawing region).
}
function draw() {
background(248);
// TODO: read p1/p2/p3; render the vector-field in the drawing region and respond live.
// TODO: HUD — title + en.wikitube.io/wiki/Gravitational_field + control hints + live readouts.
}
```
---
Back to Systems Engineering
---
<!-- SEMIOTIC-PROFILE:START -->
## Semiotic profile
> *The semiotic universals this article invokes, machine-derived from the crossref — **unverified** (born so). Populated 2026-07-06 for the Systems room.*
**Universals (4):** 🟢 field (9) · 🟡 system (4) · 🟡 density (2) · 🟢 sampling (1)
**Enter by sign:** Systems Semiotic Gateway · Alphabetum · Icon Registry · ← Systems Portal
<!-- SEMIOTIC-PROFILE:END -->
<!-- REAL-GENERATIVE-MEDIA:START -->
## Wikipedia : Wikitube
**Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_field) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Gravitational_field)
## Previous hub tags
Tree parent: [[Systems_engineering]].
Legacy hubs: none.
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*Sources: 1 legacy note. Minted wave 1, 2026-07-30 (v1.6 order).*