Acceleration due to Gravity
Estimate g at altitude h above sea level
Instructions
Enter altitude above sea level in meters and press Calculate. The result is an approximation using the inverse-square dependence of gravity with distance from Earth's center.
Formula
g(h) = g₀ · (R / (R + h))²
- g₀ ≈ 9.80665 m/s² (standard gravity at sea level)
- R ≈ 6,371,000 m (mean Earth radius)
- h = altitude above sea level (m)
This simplified model ignores latitude and local density variations. For most applications, it provides a reasonable estimate.
Common Questions
Is gravity constant everywhere on Earth?
No. Gravity varies with altitude, latitude, and local geology. This tool models only altitude dependence.
How accurate is this model?
It’s a first-order approximation. For precise geodesy, more detailed models (e.g., WGS84) are used.