Gravitational forces are one of the fundamental forces in the universe, responsible for the attraction between objects with mass. This force plays a crucial role in understanding the motions of celestial bodies, keeping planets in their orbits around the Sun and moons orbiting planets. Without gravitational forces, the universe as we know it would not exist.

To grasp the concept better, let's consider an everyday example. Take a ball and toss it into the air. What happens? The ball follows a curved path upward, slows down, stops momentarily at its highest point, and then falls back to the ground. This behavior is a result of the gravitational force exerted by the Earth, pulling the ball downward.

Gravitational forces can be attractive or repulsive, but in the case of everyday objects on the surface of the Earth, gravity is always attractive. The force between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them. The greater the mass, the stronger the force of gravity. On the other hand, as the distance between objects increases, the force of gravity decreases.

In summary, gravitational forces are the forces of attraction between objects with mass, playing a critical role in the motion of celestial bodies and the behavior of objects on Earth. Understanding the concept of gravitational forces is crucial for mastering the fundamentals of physics and exploring the workings of the universe.