Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
F = mg is the equation that represents the force of gravity acting on an object. It states that the force (F) exerted on an object is equal to its mass (m) multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (g).
Weight refers to the force experienced by an object due to gravity. It is calculated using W = mg, where W represents weight, m represents mass, and g represents acceleration due to gravity.
Acceleration due to Gravity: Acceleration due to gravity (g) is a constant value that represents how quickly objects accelerate towards Earth when falling freely under gravitational influence. On Earth's surface, it has an approximate value of 9.8 m/sยฒ.