Question

differentiate between gravitational constant G and acceleration due to gravity g.

Answer 1

g is the symbol for gravitational acceleration / gravitational field strength. Gravitational acceleration is defined as the acceleration an object undergoes when subjected to free-fall in a gravitational field. Gravitational field strength is defined as how much gravitational force is exerted on 1kg of an object. While these two may vary in definitions, they both have the same value and share the same symbol. The value of g on earth is 9.81 m/s^2 or N/kg.

However, G denotes the gravitational constant, an empirical physical constant involved in the calculation of gravitational effects in Sir Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation (F = Gm1m2/r^2) and in Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. Its value is approximately 6.674 x 10^-11 N⋅m2/kg2.

Answer 2

Gravitational Acceleration: g = (G × Mass)/(distance from the center)2. Comparing gravitational accelerations: acceleration at position A = acceleration at position B × (distance B/distance A)2.