Acceleration Due to Gravity
Acceleration due to gravity is the rate at which an object speeds up as it falls freely toward the Earth due to the force of gravity. It is represented by the symbol ‘g’, and its standard value on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that for every second an object is in free fall, its velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second.
The SI unit of acceleration due to gravity is meters per second squared (m/s²). This unit expresses how quickly an object’s velocity changes while falling under the influence of gravity.
The value of g can vary slightly based on location — it is a bit lower at the equator and higher at the poles due to Earth's shape and rotation.
This concept is fundamental in understanding free fall, projectile motion, and satellite orbits, making it an essential part of physics and real-world applications.