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Gravity Acceleration Formula:
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Acceleration due to gravity (g) is the acceleration experienced by an object due to the gravitational force of a massive body. On Earth's surface, the standard value is approximately 9.80665 m/s², but it varies with location, altitude, and planetary body.
The calculator uses Newton's law of universal gravitation:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the gravitational acceleration at a distance r from the center of a body with mass M, using the universal gravitational constant G.
Details: Understanding gravity acceleration is crucial for space missions, satellite orbits, geophysical studies, engineering projects, and understanding planetary characteristics. It affects everything from building construction to space exploration.
Tips: Choose between standard Earth gravity (9.80665 m/s²) or custom calculation. For custom calculation, enter the gravitational constant, mass of the celestial body, and radius from center. All values must be positive.
Q1: Why is Earth's gravity approximately 9.8 m/s²?
A: This value results from Earth's mass (5.972 × 10²⁴ kg) and radius (6.371 × 10⁶ m) using the gravitational formula g = G×M/r².
Q2: How does gravity vary on different planets?
A: Gravity depends on planetary mass and radius. For example: Moon (1.62 m/s²), Mars (3.71 m/s²), Jupiter (24.79 m/s²).
Q3: Does gravity change with altitude?
A: Yes, gravity decreases with altitude according to the inverse square law g ∝ 1/r².
Q4: What is the gravitational constant G?
A: G = 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² is a fundamental physical constant that determines the strength of gravity.
Q5: How accurate is the standard gravity value?
A: 9.80665 m/s² is the conventional standard, but actual gravity varies from about 9.76 to 9.83 m/s² across Earth's surface due to latitude and geology.