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Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
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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. It represents the rate at which an object's velocity changes when falling freely under the influence of gravity.
The calculator uses Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the gravitational acceleration at a specific distance from the center of a massive object, showing how gravity decreases with the square of the distance.
Details: Calculating gravitational acceleration is crucial for space missions, satellite orbits, understanding planetary physics, and various engineering applications. It helps determine orbital velocities, escape velocities, and gravitational forces.
Tips: Enter the gravitational constant (default is 6.67430e-11), 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?
A: The standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface is approximately 9.80665 m/s², though it varies slightly with latitude and altitude.
Q2: Why does gravity decrease with distance?
A: Gravity follows an inverse-square law, meaning the gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance from the center of mass.
Q3: How does mass affect gravitational acceleration?
A: Gravitational acceleration is directly proportional to the mass of the celestial body. Larger masses create stronger gravitational fields.
Q4: What is the gravitational constant G?
A: G is a fundamental physical constant that measures the strength of the gravitational force. Its value is approximately 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻².
Q5: Can this formula be used for any celestial body?
A: Yes, this formula applies to any spherical body with mass, including planets, moons, stars, and other celestial objects.