Gravitational Constant: Earth vs Other Planets

[Emz19]

Quick question... Can the gravitational constant only be used for Earth or can it be used in questions regarding other planets?

 

[Doc Al]

Quick question... Can the gravitational constant only be used for Earth or can it be used in questions regarding other planets?

Are you talking about G, the constant that appears in Newton's law of Universal Gravity? If so, then yes, it applies generally.

On the other hand, small g, the acceleration due to gravity, only applies near the Earth's surface.

 

[Emz19]

Thanks a mil!
Ya I was talking about G in Newton's Law of Universal Gravity. So I can use G ( 6.67×10−11 N m2/ kg2 ) for all planets. Thank you for your help Doc

 

[SteamKing]

That's why G is called the Universal Gravitational constant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_constant