Question

what is the difference between acceleration due to gravity and gravitational force​

Answer 1

Answer:

g is the local acceleration due to gravity between 2 objects. The unit for g is m/s^2 an acceleration. The 9.8 m/s^2 is the acceleration of an object due to gravity at sea level on earth. You get this value from the Law of Universal Gravitation. Force = m*a = G(M*m)/r^2.

Answer 2

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Gravity” is not a well-defined word in physics, while “acceleration due to gravity” means something very specific.

“Gravity” can mean several things. It is the name for the general phenomenon that stuff falls down. It is also the name we give to whatever mechanism causes things to fall down. For example: “Why did the apple fall from the tree? Gravity.” or “Gravity causes the moon to orbit the earth.”

“Acceleration due to gravity” is much more precise. It is the acceleration that an object experiences when it is dropped with no other external forces on it. It is an astounding empirical fact that all objects experience the same acceleration due to gravity when they are dropped in the same place. Near the surface of the earth the acceleration due to gravity is about 9.8 m/s/s. On the surface of the moon it is about 1.6 m/s/s.

There is also “force due to gravity” which is the force an object experiences when it is dropped with no other forces acting on it. Its strength equal to the mass of the object times the acceleration due to gravity.

Finally, I should note that people are often imprecise with language, so that the word “gravity” is taken to mean “acceleration due to gravity” or “force due to gravity.” It is usually clear from context what is meant, but I find that students confuse themselves sometimes when they mix up these terms. I try to be careful when I teach to be clear and I encourage my students to use precise terms as well, at least until they know what they are talking about.