Class 11 Gravitation Notes

 Acceleration due to gravity (or acceleration of gravity) or gravity acceleration is the acceleration caused by the gravitational force of attraction of large bodies. As we know that the term acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to a given time. Scientists like Sir Isaac Newton and Lord Henry Cavendish soon discovered that this increase in speed, or acceleration, was caused by a different force known as gravity by studying objects falling to the Earth in a variety of circumstances.

According to definitions, gravity is a force that pulls objects toward the center of mass, like the Earth. Conversely, acceleration describes how an object’s velocity or speed changes over time. Hence, the value of acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2 on earth.

What is Acceleration due to Gravity?

Acceleration due to Gravity is defined as the acceleration attained by an object due to the gravitational force of attraction. When a body is fallen toward the earth it experiences a change in its acceleration due to the gravitational pull (or force) of the Earth. This acceleration is called acceleration due to gravity. This is the acceleration that is attained by an object due to gravitational force. 

The acceleration that an object experiences as a result of the gravitational force is known as acceleration due to gravity, ms-2 is its SI unit. It has a direction and a magnitude so it is a vector quantity as a result.

The symbol g represents the acceleration due by gravity. Its typical value at sea level on the surface of the earth is 9.8 ms-2. The second law of motion and the law of universal gravitation of Newton serve as the foundation for its calculation.