Topic explanation

Standard explanation

The acceleration due to gravity at Earth’s surface is the acceleration a freely falling object experiences due to Earth’s gravitational field.

Key points

• g = GMₑ/Rₑ²
• Formula / Key Relation: For an object of mass `m` on Earth’s surface: F = GMₑmRₑ² From Newton’s second law: **F = mg
• Surface gravity depends on Earth’s mass and radius.
• The acceleration due to gravity at Earth’s surface is the acceleration a freely falling object experiences due to Earth’

Labelled diagram