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⚛️ Physics  ·  Gravitation  ·  NEET & JEE

Value of g at depth d below Earth's surface:

Answer: g(1-d/R).

  • A g(1-d/R)
  • B g(1-2d/R)
  • C g(1-d<sup>2</sup>/R<sup>2</sup>)
  • D g*d/R

Correct answer: A. g(1-d/R)

Explanation: g at depth d = g(1 - d/R). At center (d=R), g = 0. At surface (d=0), g = g.

Variation of g with Height and Depthgg_surfaceAbove surface: g ∝ 1/r² (falls off curving down)Below surface: g ∝ r (falls off LINEARLY)Earth's surface (r = R)centre (r=0): g=0g is MAXIMUM exactly at the surface - it decreases in both directions, but by different laws

g is maximum at Earth's surface; going up, it falls off as 1/r² (inverse-square); going down, it falls off linearly with depth (since only the mass enclosed within radius r contributes), reaching zero at the centre.

Concept context

Universal gravitation, orbital mechanics, gravitational potential, and escape velocity.

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