Orbital mechanics · g = GM / r²
Surface Gravity
The gravitational acceleration at a body's surface, from its mass and radius. Earth's is about 9.8 m/s².
Surface gravity9.8203m/s²
Formula: g = GM / r²
Worked example
With the default inputs, surface gravity evaluates to 9.8203 m/s² — Earth → 9.8 m/s². The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›Earth: 9.8 m/s²
The physics behind it
Knowledge connections
- Associated withUniversal Gravitation
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.