Equations
Gravitational acceleration near a body
Gravitation · id surface_gravity
g = \frac{G M}{r^2}
| Symbol | Quantity | Unit | Meaning | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
g | gravitational acceleration | m/s^2 | Acceleration due to gravity at distance r | 1e-12 to 1e+13 |
G | gravitational constant | m^3/(kg*s^2) | Newton's constant of gravitation | |
M | central mass | kg | Mass of the central body | 1 to 1e+32 |
r | distance from center | m | Distance from the body's center | 1 to 1e+13 |
Assumptions
- Spherically symmetric body
- Outside the body
Valid when
- No extra conditions.
Found by
Questions with these words retrieve this equation: gravitation, surface gravity, planet, moon, gravity, free-fall acceleration.
Source
OpenStax University Physics Volume 1, Chapter 13 (reference; entry written by the project). License: MIT. Entry confidence: 0.99.