Question

Explain the factors affecting the value of the gravitational acceleration.

Answer 1

Hint: The acceleration due to gravity, g, fluctuates from place to place on the earth. It also differs from the altitude and depth beneath the earth's surface. The factors influencing the value of g are the earth's shape, altitude, and depth below the earth's surface.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Newton described the connection between a force and an acceleration. Newton's second law says that force is proportional to acceleration. The proportionality constant is the object's mass.
The acceleration due to gravity, g, alters from place to place on the ground. It also changes with the altitude and depth under the earth's surface. The factors influencing the value of g are the earth's shape, altitude, and depth under the earth's surface.
The earth is not spherical. It is slightly straight or flat at the poles and swelling in the tropics. At the earth's surface, the value of g is highest at the poles as the polar radius is smallest, while it is least at the equator as the tropical radius is greatest.
As the height over the earth’s surface rises, the value of g drops.
In the earth's interior, on typical, the value of g is smaller than that at the earth’s surface. As the bottom below the earth's surface rises, the value of g drops, and finally, it becomes zero at the earth's centre.
Spatial Based Variations are changes in the detected acceleration that are time-dependent. These alter the gravitational acceleration from area to area.
Latitude Variations changes in the acceleration produced by the ellipsoidal shape and the earth's rotation.
Elevation Variations change in the acceleration generated by differences in the heights of the measurement locations.

Note: When estimating the earth's gravity, we normally do not measure the force of gravitation, F. Rather, we estimate the gravitational acceleration. The acceleration due to gravitation is the rate of change of a body's speed below the impact of the gravitational force.