alleryThe acceleration due to gravity at the Earth's surface, g, is related to its mass M and radius R by:
Ag = G M / R
Bg = G M² / R²
Cg = G M / R²
Dg = G M / R³
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. g = G M / R²
1. Gravitational force on a mass m at the surface: F = G M m / R².
2. By Newton's second law, F = m g, so g = F / m = G M / R².
3. This expression assumes a spherical, uniform-density Earth and ignores rotation.
_Source: syllabus Physics Ch 7 "Gravitation", §7.5 Acceleration due to Gravity, p. 132_
Keep practising Gravitation
Browse all Gravitation questions for AP Intermediate 1st Year, or explore more Physics topics.
Related questions
Inside a hypothetical spherical shell of uniform mass distribution, the gravitational fielIf the radius of a planet shrinks to half while its mass is unchanged, the escape velocityA geostationary satellite orbits the Earth with a period equal to:The total mechanical energy of a satellite of mass m in a circular orbit of radius r arounEscape velocity from the Earth's surface (g = 9.8 m s⁻², R = 6.4 × 10⁶ m) is closest to:The escape speed from the surface of a planet of mass M and radius R is given by:At a depth d below the Earth's surface (d ≪ R), the acceleration due to gravity is approxiAt a height h above the Earth's surface (h ≪ R), the acceleration due to gravity g(h) is a