Final answer:
The measure of Earth's gravitational pull on matter is called an object's weight, calculated as the product of its mass and the gravitational acceleration (mg), where g is approximately 9.81 m/s² on Earth's surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The measure of Earth's gravitational pull on matter is known as the weight of an object. Weight is the result of the gravitational attraction between Earth and an object. The gravitational force on an object, which equates to its weight, can be quantified as mg where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity, which near Earth's surface is approximately 9.81 m/s². It's essential to recognize that weight is variable depending on the strength of the local gravitational pull, while mass is an intrinsic property of an object and is independent of gravity.
On larger scales, such as in astronomical systems, gravitational force is the dominant force determining the motions of celestial bodies and also affects the nature of space and time. Whenever there is mass in the universe, the force of gravitational attraction is present, with larger masses exerting a stronger force.