Free Fall and gravitational field strength

In summary, free fall occurs when the rate of falling matches the gravitational field strength at that point. In an airplane, accelerating towards the ground at the same rate as Earth's gravitational field results in zero g and weightlessness. However, a black hole's gravitational field is not infinite everywhere and would only have an infinite strength at the singularity.
  • #1
studentxlol
40
0
Hello.

For free fall to occur, does the rate at which you fall have to equal the gravitational field strength at that point above the surface?

If I'm in an airplane and accelerate towards the ground at an acceleration of 9.8ms^-2 equal to that of the Earth's gravitational field, then I experience zero g and therefore, weightlessness.

Is that right?

Also, if this is correct, and hypothetically I travel towards a black hole whose gravitational field strength is infinite, how would this work?

Help please!
 
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  • #2
That is the condition for free fall.

A black hole's gravitational field strength is not infinite everywhere; from a distance, it has more or less the same gravitational field as any normal star of the same mass. It would only be (supposedly) infinite at the singularity.
 

1. What is free fall?

Free fall is the motion of an object under the influence of gravity, where the only force acting on the object is its weight. This means that the object is accelerating towards the ground at a constant rate of 9.8 meters per second squared.

2. How is free fall related to gravitational field strength?

Free fall and gravitational field strength are closely related, as the acceleration due to gravity is a measure of the strength of the gravitational field. In free fall, the gravitational field strength is constant because the mass and distance of the object from the center of the Earth do not change.

3. What factors affect the gravitational field strength?

The gravitational field strength is affected by the mass and distance of the objects involved. The larger the mass of an object, the stronger its gravitational field. The further an object is from the center of a massive body, the weaker the gravitational field.

4. How is the gravitational field strength measured?

The gravitational field strength is measured in units of newtons per kilogram (N/kg). This can be calculated by dividing the force of gravity acting on an object (weight) by its mass. It can also be measured using specialized instruments such as gravimeters.

5. Does the gravitational field strength vary on Earth?

Yes, the gravitational field strength can vary slightly on different parts of the Earth's surface due to variations in the Earth's mass distribution. Additionally, factors such as altitude and latitude can also affect the gravitational field strength.

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