Example:
The acceleration due to gravity at a height h above the surface of the Earth is 40% of the value at the Earth's surface. Find the value of h.
Given: radius of the Earth R = 6400 km.
Solution:
Equation (G.6), reproduced below for convenience, may be directly used.
Here gh /g = 0.4. Therefore h/R = (1/0.632) - 1 = 0.581, and h = 3719 km.
Note: Equation (G.7) is applicable only when h is negligible compared to the radius of the Earth.
