- #1
Kat007
- 29
- 0
Homework Statement
I am wondering how did the local graviational field (free fall acceleration) g = 9.81m/s^2 is calculated?
The value of g, or the acceleration due to gravity, is calculated using the formula g = G * (M / r^2), where G is the universal gravitational constant, M is the mass of the larger object, and r is the distance between the two objects.
The value of g is not a constant and can vary depending on location and altitude. However, 9.81m/s^2 is a commonly used approximation for the average value of g at sea level on Earth.
As altitude increases, the distance between an object and the center of the Earth increases, resulting in a decrease in the value of g. This is because the gravitational force between two objects decreases as the distance between them increases.
Yes, the value of g can differ on other planets depending on their mass and radius. For example, the value of g on Mars is approximately 3.71m/s^2, while on Jupiter it is approximately 24.79m/s^2.
The value of g is an important factor in many physics equations, such as calculating the force of gravity between two objects, determining the weight of an object, and understanding the motion of objects in free fall. It is also used in fields such as astrophysics, geology, and engineering.