I keep getting “Acceleration due to gravity g” questions wrong in Gravitation. What's the trap?
treating g as a fixed 9.8 everywhere, including in orbit.
The usual trap: treating g as a fixed 9.8 everywhere, including in orbit. How to avoid it: g falls off with height and also drops as you go below the surface. Go back to the definition — g = GM/R² at a planet's surface; it decreases with both altitude and depth.
Key point
Acceleration due to gravity g
Common mistake
treating g as a fixed 9.8 everywhere, including in orbit.
Memory tip
g falls off with height and also drops as you go below the surface.
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