The acceleration of gravity on Earth's surface is 9.8 m/s². What is the acceleration of gravity at a height of 6,400 km above Earth's surface? (Hint: recall the 1/r² dependence and note that Earth's radius is 6,400 km.) A) 4.9 m/s ² B) 2.45 m/s ² C) 19.6 m/s ² D) 9.8 m/s ²

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The acceleration of gravity decreases with the square of the distance from the center of the Earth. At 6,400 km above the surface, the distance from the center is doubled (12,800 km), so the gravity is (1/2)^2 = 1/4 of 9.8 m/s², which is 2.45 m/s².

The Acceleration of Gravity on Earth's Surface Is 9