Consider the observation that the acceleration due to the gravitational force acting on a mass around a host planet decreases with the square of the separation between the objects. We can ask ourselves: why is it still accurate to consider a gravitational acceleration value of 9.8\frac{m}{s^2}9.8s2m​ for all of our projectile motion problems and all of our gravitational potential energy from prior modules?    Let's analyze a situation and justify this analysis method: consider an object being launched from ground level to an altitude of 10,000 meters, roughly the cruising altitude of most jet liners, and far above our everyday experiences on Earth's surface. Compare the gravitational acceleration of the object at Earth's surface (the radius of Earth is about r_E=6.37\times10^6mrE​=6.37×106m) to the acceleration value at the 10,000 meter altitude by determining the following ratio: g10,000m/gsurface

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
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ISBN:9781133939146
Author:Katz, Debora M.
Publisher:Katz, Debora M.
Chapter8: Conservation Of Energy
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Consider the observation that the acceleration due to the gravitational force acting on a mass around a host planet decreases with the square of the separation between the objects. We can ask ourselves: why is it still accurate to consider a gravitational acceleration value of 9.8\frac{m}{s^2}9.8s2m​ for all of our projectile motion problems and all of our gravitational potential energy from prior modules? 

 

Let's analyze a situation and justify this analysis method: consider an object being launched from ground level to an altitude of 10,000 meters, roughly the cruising altitude of most jet liners, and far above our everyday experiences on Earth's surface. Compare the gravitational acceleration of the object at Earth's surface (the radius of Earth is about r_E=6.37\times10^6mrE​=6.37×106m) to the acceleration value at the 10,000 meter altitude by determining the following ratio: g10,000m/gsurface

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