Question

The acceleration due to gravity near Earth ... Select one: a. varies inversely with the distance from the center of Earth. by. varies inversely with the square of the distance from the center of Earth. c. is a constant that is independent of altitude d. varies directly with the distance from the center of Earth.

Answer 1

b. varies inversely with the square of the distance from the center of Earth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparing the Newton's law of universal gravitation and second law of motion;

from Newton's second law of motion,

F = ma ............. 1

from New ton's law of universal gravitation,

F =
`(GMm)/(r^(2) )` ........... 2

Equating 1 and 2, we have;

mg =
`(GMm)/(r^(2) )`

g =
`(GM)/(r^(2) )`

Therefore, the acceleration due to gravity near Earth, g, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the center of Earth.