Acceleration Due To Gravity Formula:
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Acceleration due to gravity (g) is the acceleration experienced by an object due to the gravitational force exerted by a massive body. It represents the rate at which an object's velocity changes when falling freely under the influence of gravity.
The calculator uses the gravitational acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the gravitational acceleration at a given distance from the center of a massive object, based on Newton's law of universal gravitation.
Details: Calculating gravitational acceleration is crucial for space missions, satellite operations, understanding planetary physics, and various engineering applications where gravitational effects must be considered.
Tips: Enter the gravitational constant (default is Earth's value), mass of the celestial body in kilograms, and distance from the center in meters. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the standard value of g on Earth's surface?
A: Approximately 9.8 m/s², though it varies slightly with latitude and altitude.
Q2: How does gravity change with distance?
A: Gravity follows an inverse-square law - it decreases with the square of the distance from the center of mass.
Q3: Why is the gravitational constant so small?
A: The gravitational constant is a fundamental physical constant that reflects the relative weakness of gravitational force compared to other fundamental forces.
Q4: Can this calculator be used for any celestial body?
A: Yes, by inputting the appropriate mass and distance values, you can calculate gravitational acceleration for any object.
Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation provides theoretical Newtonian gravity. For extreme precision (near black holes or relativistic speeds), general relativity corrections are needed.