If the mass of the Earth is M and its radius is R, what is the gravitational acc
Practice Questions
Q1
If the mass of the Earth is M and its radius is R, what is the gravitational acceleration at the surface of the Earth?
g = GM/R^2
g = GMR^2
g = G/MR^2
g = MR/G
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the mass of the Earth is M and its radius is R, what is the gravitational acceleration at the surface of the Earth?
Step 1: Understand that gravitational acceleration is the force of gravity acting on an object at the surface of the Earth.
Step 2: Know that the formula for gravitational acceleration (g) is derived from Newton's law of universal gravitation.
Step 3: The formula for gravitational acceleration is g = GM/R^2, where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the Earth, and R is the radius of the Earth.
Step 4: Recognize that G is a constant value (approximately 6.674 × 10^-11 N(m/kg)^2).
Step 5: Substitute the values of M (mass of the Earth) and R (radius of the Earth) into the formula to calculate g.
Gravitational Acceleration – The acceleration experienced by an object due to the gravitational force exerted by a massive body, calculated using the formula g = GM/R^2.
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation – The law that describes the gravitational attraction between two masses, which is foundational for understanding gravitational acceleration.
