What is meant by gravitational field strength?

Gravitational field strength refers to the force experienced by a unit mass placed in a gravitational field. It is quantified as the acceleration that a mass would experience due to gravity. Specifically, it is defined as the force per unit mass, meaning it describes how much gravitational force acts on every kilogram of mass in that field.

At Earth's surface, for example, the gravitational field strength is approximately 9.81 N/kg, which indicates that a 1 kg mass experiences a force of 9.81 N downward due to gravity. This concept is crucial in understanding the behavior of objects under the influence of gravity and provides a clear way to calculate the effects of gravity on bodies of different masses.

The incorrect options do not define gravitational field strength accurately. The weight of an object relates to the force due to gravity on that object, but it is not the field strength itself. The distance from the center of mass is relevant in determining gravitational interactions but does not define field strength. The density of an object pertains to its mass relative to its volume, which is unrelated to gravitational field strength.