Question #4929a

1 Answer
Mar 14, 2017

If I understood your answer correctly I would say the following:

As per Law of Universal Gravitation the force of attraction FG between two bodies of masses M1andM2 located at a distance r from each other is given by the expression

FG=GM1.M2r2 .......(1)

Where G is the proportionality constant.
It has the value 6.67408×1011m3kg1s2

We see that if Me is the mass of earth and m be the mass of an object of interest then
FG=m(GMer2)

Comparing it with equation of Newton's Second law of motion

F=ma

we observe that
Acceleration due to gravity g=GMPr2

When the object initially located at some height above the surface of earth is brought down, the distance r between the two decreases. The value of g increases; r being in the denominator of the relationship. When the object touches the surface of earth r=Re, radius of earth. Here we have
g=GMPR2e=9.81ms2, a constant.

As the object is taken below the surface of earth, we see that the distance between the two decreases.

However, it can be proved that attractive force between part earth mass of spherical shell above the object and the object is zero.

As such only the mass of sphere below the location of the object and the object needs to considered in the force equation.

This leads to decrease in the value of acceleration due to gravity.

Hope it helps. Feel free to raise any questions.