Asked by Nicole

Calculate the effective value of g, the acceleration of gravity (in meters/second^2), at 5100 km above the earth's surface.
Answered by John
Isn't "g" constantly -9.8 m/s/s, regardless of height?
Answered by Nicole
that's what i thought but i put 9.8 and -9.8 in and the answer was wrong. so somehow it's different
Answered by John
The effective value of g is inversely proportional to the SQUARE of the distance from the center of the earth.

The radius of the Earth is 6378 km. At 5100 km altitude, you are 11,478 km from the center.

g will lowered by a factor (6378/11478)^2
Credit to "drwl"
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