What is the formula used to calculate the gravitational field strength?

The gravitational field strength is defined as the force per unit mass experienced by an object in a gravitational field. This relationship can be expressed with the formula ( g = \frac{F}{m} ), where ( g ) represents the gravitational field strength, ( F ) is the gravitational force acting on the object, and ( m ) is the mass of the object.

In this context, the gravitational field strength ( g ) indicates how much force is exerted on a mass due to gravity. For example, on the surface of the Earth, this value is approximately ( 9.81 , \text{N/kg} ). By rearranging the formula, you can also find the gravitational force when multiplying ( g ) by ( m ), but fundamental to understanding the definition is recognizing that gravitational field strength quantifies how much gravitational force acts on a unit mass.

While other options might introduce concepts related to gravity, only this formula correctly defines the gravitational field strength by considering the ratio of force to mass. This is crucial for understanding the basic principles of gravity and force interactions in physics.