The “constant” acceleration due to gravity varies due to several effects. One of these effects is the latitude of the observer. Another is the altitude.<\/p>\n
At a latitude of L, the acceleration due to gravity at sea level is approximately Acceleration due to gravity decreases as the inverse of the square of the distance from the center of mass of the body imparting the gravitational acceleration; g=k\/x2<\/sup> The perceived acceleration changes in response to changes in latitude and altitude. Go to<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The “constant” acceleration due to gravity varies due to several effects. One of these effects is the latitude of the observer. Another is the altitude. Latitude At a latitude of L, the acceleration due to gravity at sea level is approximately g= 9.780327 [ 1 + .0053024*sin2(L) – .0000058*sin2(2L) ] meters per second per second. G222 is at approximately 39…<\/p>\n
\ng= 9.780327 [ 1 + .0053024*sin2<\/span><\/sup>(L) – .0000058*sin2<\/span><\/sup>(2L) ] meters per second per second.
\nG222 is at approximately 39 degrees 29.01 minutes N latitude, giving an angle L of approximately .689117 radians, and an acceleration due to gravity (at sea level) of approximately 9.81012397 meters per sec2<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n
\nAltitude<\/h3>\n
\n<\/span> Because the earth is not perfectly spherical, the distance from the center of the earth for any person standing on the surface depends upon the latitude L.
\nThe equatorial radius of the earth is approximately 6,378,140 meters.
\nThe polar radius is approximately 6,356,755 meters.
\nIf we model the earth as an ellipsoid, this means that the radius of the earth at latitude L is given by R= 6,356,755* sqrt( 1 + .0067396*cos2<\/span><\/sup>(L) ).
\nAt the latitude of Terre Haute, this is approximately 6,369,502 meters.
\nThus, a person at altitude of H meters above sea level experiences and acceleration due to gravity of
\na= g*R2<\/span><\/sup>\/(R+H)2<\/span><\/sup>.
\nG310 is at approximately 580 feet above sea level. This is roughly 176.8 meters above sea level.
\nThis gives an acceleration due to gravity of approximately 9.8095794<\/b> meters per second2<\/span><\/sup>.
\nMoving to the classroom ceiling, this constant becomes 9.8095701 meters per second2<\/span><\/sup>.
\nMoving to the circle in front of Hadley Hall (L-> .689103, H->180m), we get an acceleration due to gravity of approximately 9.80956953 meters per second2<\/span><\/sup>.<\/p>\n
\nRates of change<\/h3>\n
\nThe rate of change with respect to altitude is given by da\/dH= -2g*R2<\/span><\/sup>\/(R+H)3<\/span><\/sup> = -2ga\/(R+H).
\nThus the acceleration due to gravity decreases by approximately one part in 3,000,000 for each meter risen. This is approximately 1\/300,000 meters per second2<\/span><\/sup> per meter.<\/p>\n
\n\n