What does active gravitational mass measure?

Active gravitational mass specifically measures the strength of the gravitational field produced by a particular object. This concept is fundamental to understanding how masses interact under the influence of gravity. When you consider an object with mass, such as Earth, its active gravitational mass determines how much gravitational force it exerts on other objects around it. This force can be calculated and described by Newton's law of universal gravitation.

The key here is that active gravitational mass is solely focused on the source of the gravitational field that the object generates, rather than other aspects like the object's total mass in a gravitational field or its inertial properties. Thus, it is concerned with the ability of an object to attract other masses and is essential for calculations involving orbits, trajectories of falling objects, and the behavior of celestial bodies within gravitational interactions.