The Acceleration Due to Gravity at 445 km Above Earth's Surface

About Acceleration Due to Gravity at Altitude of 445 km

A satellite is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 445 km above the surface of the Earth. The question is, what is the acceleration due to gravity in m/s^2 at that altitude?

Final Answer

The acceleration due to gravity at an altitude of 445 km above the Earth's surface is approximately 8.54 m/s^2.

Explanation

To calculate the acceleration due to gravity at an altitude of 445 km above the surface of the Earth, we need to use the formula for gravitational acceleration:
g = G * (M/R^2)

Where:
g is the acceleration due to gravity
G is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.674 x 10^-11 N*m^2/kg^2)
M is the mass of the Earth (approximately 5.972 x 10^24 kg)
R is the distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite (radius of the Earth plus altitude)

Plugging in the values, we get:
g = (6.674 x 10^-11 N*m^2/kg^2) * (5.972 x 10^24 kg) / ((6,371 km + 445 km)^2)

Simplifying, we find that the acceleration due to gravity at that altitude is approximately 8.54 m/s^2.