acceleration of gravity
Symbol: g . The acceleration to the center of a planet (or other massive body such as a natural satellite) of an object falling freely without air resistance, i.e. acceleration due to downward motion in a gravitational field. It is equal to GM /R 2, where G is the gravitational constant and M and R are the mass and radius of the planet. The acceleration is thus independent of the mass of the accelerated object, i.e. it is the same for all bodies (neglecting air resistance) falling at the same point on the surface of the planet, satellite, etc. On Earth the value of the acceleration of gravity is about 9.81 meters per second per second. The value varies from place to place on the Earth's surface because of different distances to the Earth's center and greater acceleration toward the equator. In addition, it is affected by local deposits of light or heavy materials. See also microgravity; weight; weightlessness.
Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006
acceleration of gravity
[ak‚sel·ə′rā·shən əv ′grav·ə·dē] (mechanics)
The acceleration imparted to bodies by the attractive force of the earth; has an international standard value of 980.665 cm/s2 but varies with latitude and elevation. Also known as acceleration of free fall; apparent gravity.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
acceleration of gravity (g)
The acceleration produced by the force of gravity at the surface of the earth. (By international agreement the value of g is 386.089 inches per second square = 32.1740 feet per second square = 9.80665 meters per second square.)
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Acceleration of Gravity
(or acceleration of free fall), the acceleration imparted to a free material particle by the force of gravity. Such acceleration would be undergone by the center of gravity of any body if the body were to fall to earth in a vacuum from a small altitude. Like the force of gravity, the acceleration of gravity depends on the latitude φ and the elevation H above sea level. The acceleration of gravity g is approximately 978.049(1 + 0.005288 sin2 φ – 0.000006 sin2 2φ) – 0.0003086H. At the latitude of Moscow at sea level g = 981.56 cm/sec2.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.