An object with mass m in a gravitational field will experience a gravitational force F = mg which is equal to its weightProvided that no other force acts on the object it will experience an acceleration according to Newtons second law of motion of a = F/m.The object will therefore fall freely with an acceleration of g, so g may be described as the acceleration of a freely falling object due to gravity.
Free fall in a gravitational field.
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Specification: Edexcel Physics (9PH0), A-level, Topic 12: Gravitational Fields, statements 174 and 179. Topic: Gravitational Fields.
More in Gravitational Fields
- Gravitational Fields.
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- The Earth's gravitational field
- Gravitational Potential Energy
- Gravitational Potential.
- Equipotentials.
- The potential gradient.
- Newton's Law of Gravitation.
All 14 lessons in Gravitational Fields · All Edexcel A-level Physics topics