In
physics, a
gravitational field is a
model used to explain the influence that a massive body extends into the space around itself, producing a force on another massive body. Thus, a gravitational field is used to explain
gravitational phenomena, and is measured in
newtons per
kilogram (N/kg). In its original concept,
gravity was a
force between point
masses. Following
Newton,
Laplace attempted to model gravity as some kind of
radiation field or
fluid, and since the 19th century explanations for gravity have usually been taught in terms of a field model, rather than a point attraction.