Which characteristic refers to the gravitational force acting on an object?

The characteristic that refers specifically to the gravitational force acting on an object is gravitational forces. This concept encompasses the influence of gravity on an object's weight, which is the force exerted by the earth's gravity on that object. When considering weight, it directly relates to the amount of gravitational force acting on the mass of the object.

Understanding gravitational forces involves recognizing how they impact objects in terms of weight and how they can change based on factors such as altitude and the mass of other nearby objects. This characteristic is essential in physics as it helps explain not just why objects fall to the ground, but also how planets and moons interact within their orbits.

In contrast, mass refers to the amount of matter in an object, while density is the mass of an object divided by its volume. Pressure relates to force distributed over an area, which does not directly describe the gravitational interaction itself. Thus, gravitational forces is the best choice as it specifically addresses the relationship between gravity and the weight of an object.