The acceleration due to gravity, denoted by "g," varies with altitude. As you move away from the Earth's surface, the gravitational force decreases. This is because the distance between you and the Earth's center increases, and the gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

Key points:

  • Inverse square law: The gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance from the Earth's center.

  • Altitude variation: As altitude increases, the gravitational force decreases.

  • Gravitational field strength: The gravitational field strength (g) is a measure of the gravitational force per unit mass at a particular point. It also decreases with altitude.

  • Rate of decrease: The rate of decrease in gravitational force and field strength with altitude is not constant. It is slightly faster at lower altitudes and slightly slower at higher altitudes.

  • Small changes at low altitudes: At relatively low altitudes, the change in gravitational force and field strength is small and can often be neglected.

Factors affecting the variation of g with altitude:

  • Earth's shape: The Earth is not a perfect sphere, which can cause slight variations in gravitational force and field strength at different locations.

  • Mass distribution: The distribution of mass within the Earth can also affect the gravitational force and field strength.

Applications:

  • Satellite orbits: The variation of g with altitude is important for calculating the orbits of satellites.

  • Space travel: Understanding the variation of g with altitude is crucial for planning space missions.

  • Scientific research: The variation of g with altitude can be used to study the Earth's internal structure and composition.

In summary:
The acceleration due to gravity varies with altitude. The gravitational force and field strength decrease as you move away from the Earth's surface. Understanding this variation is important in many fields of science and engineering.