acceleration of gravity

USAGE SUMMARY

"acceleration of gravity" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the fact that bodies near the surface of the Earth experience a gravitational force that results in them accelerating downwards. For example, "Due to the acceleration of gravity, a ball dropped from a rooftop will fall to the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After being threatened with plastic strips, an unfamiliar ant, or a spider, the ants accelerated their mandibles at 100,000 times the acceleration of gravity, the researchers report online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Science Magazine

with g the acceleration of gravity.

Britannica

Thus, they are falling towards Earth at the acceleration of gravity.

Harvard University

A special reversible compound pendulum called Kater's pendulum is designed to measure the value of g, the acceleration of gravity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At Earth's surface the acceleration of gravity is about 9.8 metres (32 feet) per second per second.

Encyclopedia Britannica

According to Albert Einstein, there is no difference between the acceleration of Gravity and any other acceleration.

Stanford University

This force is balanced exactly by the acceleration of gravity and by the reaction from the surface ( Figure 4-4 ).

Harvard University

In the second case the proposed solution also addresses the estimation of the acceleration of gravity.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

The weight of a body, which is usually of more practical interest than its mass, can be obtained by multiplying the mass by the acceleration of gravity.

Britannica

Alternatively, weight is the product of an object's mass and either the gravitational field or the acceleration of gravity at the point where the object is located.

Britannica

Their speed of travel in deep water is given by the formula (√gh), where h is the sea depth and g is the acceleration of gravity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the acceleration of gravity, specify the location (e.g., Earth's surface) as it varies slightly depending on altitude and latitude.

Common error

Avoid using "weight" and "mass" interchangeably. Mass is an intrinsic property of an object, while weight is the force exerted on that mass due to the acceleration of gravity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acceleration of gravity" functions as a noun phrase, denoting a physical quantity. It is commonly used in scientific and technical contexts to refer to the rate at which objects accelerate due to the force of gravity, as supported by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acceleration of gravity" is a fundamental concept in physics, referring to the rate at which objects accelerate due to gravity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in scientific, academic, and encyclopedic contexts, this term is crucial for precise communication in fields like physics and engineering. While alternative phrases like "gravitational acceleration" exist, "acceleration of gravity" remains a standard and unambiguous term. Remember to specify the location when discussing it and to avoid confusing weight with mass. With its established presence in authoritative sources, "acceleration of gravity" is an essential phrase for anyone studying or working in related scientific areas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gravitational acceleration

Switches the order of the words but maintains the exact same meaning.

acceleration due to gravity

Reorders the prepositional phrase.

free-fall acceleration

Emphasizes the acceleration experienced during free fall.

standard gravity

Refers to the nominal acceleration due to gravity on Earth.

gravitational field strength

Focuses on the strength of the gravitational field rather than the acceleration it causes.

gravitational field intensity

Focuses on the intensity of the gravitational field.

force of gravity per unit mass

Expresses acceleration of gravity as a force acting on a unit mass.

earth's gravitational pull

Highlights the pull exerted by Earth specifically.

gravitational constant times mass divided by radius squared

Describes the concept using the formula, more technical.

g-force

Refers to the force experienced due to acceleration or gravity, often in aviation or high-speed scenarios.

FAQs

How is the "acceleration of gravity" measured?

The "acceleration of gravity" is typically measured using instruments like gravimeters or through experiments involving free-falling objects. Its standard value on Earth is approximately 9.81 m/s².

What factors influence the "acceleration of gravity" on Earth?

The "acceleration of gravity" varies slightly depending on latitude, altitude, and local geological features. These factors affect the distance from Earth's center and the distribution of mass.

What is the relationship between "acceleration of gravity" and weight?

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and is calculated by multiplying the object's mass by the "gravitational acceleration" (w = mg).

Is there a difference between "acceleration of gravity" and "gravitational acceleration"?

No, the terms "acceleration of gravity" and "gravitational acceleration" are essentially synonymous and can be used interchangeably.