Gravitational field strength of the earth

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SUMMARY

The gravitational field strength of Earth, denoted as 'g', is calculated using the formula g = GM/r², where G is the gravitational constant and M is the mass of the Earth. A participant in the discussion calculated 'g' to be approximately 9.792121683 N/kg, which is slightly higher than the standard value of 9.8 N/kg. The discrepancy is attributed to potential errors in unit conversion, specifically dividing by the square of the Earth's radius in kilometers instead of meters.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational force and field strength
  • Familiarity with the formula g = GM/r²
  • Knowledge of unit conversions, particularly between kilometers and meters
  • Basic physics concepts related to mass and distance
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the gravitational constant (G) and its significance in calculations
  • Study unit conversion techniques, especially for radius measurements
  • Explore the implications of gravitational field strength variations
  • Learn about the Earth's mass and radius for accurate gravitational calculations
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Students in physics, educators teaching gravitational concepts, and anyone interested in understanding the calculations behind gravitational field strength.

AbsoluteZer0
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Hi,

Using the formula g = [itex]\frac{GM}{r<sup>2</sup>}[/itex] I found 'g' to equal (9.792121683 x 106 [itex]\frac{N}{kg}[/itex])

The value of g is 9.8 [itex]\frac{N}{kg}[/itex]. I am wondering if I made an error in my calculations or if there is a method of simplifying to get 9.8.

Thanks,
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Units. Always check your units. You most likely divided by the square of the Earth's radius in kilometers.
 

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