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R Re el la at ti io on n B Be et tw we ee en n G G a an nd d G G
If M is the mass of earth and R is the radius, the earth attracts a mass m on its surface by a force F given
as:
2
GMm
F
R
=
This force impacts acceleration to the mass m, which is known as acceleration due to gravity (g).
By Newton's II nd Law, we have: acceleration = force / mass
2
2
GMm
F GM
R
g
m m R
= = =
On the surface of earth,
2
GM
g
R
=
Substituting the values of G, M, R we get g = 9.81 m/s
2
.
-
m
R
centre
VARIATION IN ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY
(a) Variation of g with altitude: At an altitude h above the earths surface,
R' , the distance from the centre of the earth = R + h
Thus, g' =
2
GM
R'
=
2
2
g R
R'
( GM = gR
2
)
=
2
R
g
R

' | |

\ .
=
2
R h
g
R

+ | |

\ .
or, g' =
2
h
g 1
R

| |
+

\ .
This implies that, for h <<R,
g' =
2h
g 1
R
| |

\ .
R'
C
R
h
At a height of 100 km from the field, the acceleration due to gravity decreases by a fraction
of
2h 2100
= 3%
R 6400
~
(b) Variation of g with depth: At a depth, x, below the earths surface, the only change is not just
due to the change in the distance from the centre of the earth, but also due to a change in the
effective mass of the earth that contributes to g at this point. Only that portion of the earth that is
enclosed by a sphere of radius R
S
( = R - x) centered at the earths centre is effective.
If we assume the earth to be a sphere having uniform volume, then,
g' =
eff
2
S
GM
R
=
3
S 2
3
S
M 4 1
G R
4
3 R
R
3
| |

t

t
\ .
=
S
3
R
GM
R
=
S
2
R GM
R R
=
S
R
g
R

R
C
R
s
P
x
g' =
x
g 1
R
| |

\ .
( since R = R
S
+ x)
Therefore, at a depth of 10 km below the earths field, the fractional decrease in the
acceleration due to gravity is,approximately,
10
6400
~ 0.16%
In reality, the change will be much less as the density of the earth is not constant
throughout as we have assumed in fact the crust has a much lower density as compared to
the core.
(c) Variation with latitude: The effective value of the acceleration
due to gravity changes with latitude owing to the rotation of the earth.
Referring to the figure, at a latitude u (Point Q), the effective weight,
mg' = mg me
2
r cosu . . . (i)
Where me
2
r is the centrifugal force and we take its component in
the vertical direction and mg is the weight in the absence of rotation.
Now, r = radius of the circle rotating about Q.
= QE = R cos u (from ACQE),
Therefore, g= g e
2
R cos
2
u
u
P
Equatorial
Plane
m
2
r

South
Q
D
C
North
E

mg
or, g=
2
2
R
g 1 cos
g
| | e
u

\ .
(ii)
Now, e= 2t/86400 s
1
, R~ 6400 km, g = 9.8 m/s
2
So, e
2
R/g ~ 0.34%, which is indeed a very small effect
At poles: u = 90 g
/
= g
the motion of the earth has no effect on the gravity at poles.
At equator: u = 0
2
R
g' g 1
g
| | e
=

\ .
(d) Effect of the surface of Earth
The equatorial radius is about 21 km longer than its polar radius. We
know,
e
pole equator 2
e
GM
g Hence g g
R
= > . The weight of the body increase
as the body is taken from the equator to the pole.