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Does everyone learn the same gravity in school or is it different everywhere? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

63 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So, I learned in physics class at school in the UK that the value of acceleration due to gravity is a constant called g and that it was 9.81m/s^2. I knew that this value is not a true constant as it is affected by terrain and location. However I didn't know that it can be so significantly different as to be 9.776 m/s^2 in Kuala Lumpur for example. I'm wondering if a different value is told to children in school that is locally relevant for them? Or do we all use the value I learned?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

You round it to 10? Do you also round PI to 3 for simplicity? Kids these days.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Rounding of constants always depends on what you are calculating. Getting a rocket into orbit is a case to use the actual local value of g with a bunch of digits (and the change with height, too). If you build a precision tool, some more digits of PI are no bad idea.

But to calculate the lenght of fence to buy to surround a round pond, I actually used 10/3 for "PI plus safety margin" once.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I was just kidding but good example with the fence.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

yeah :/ in physics class we do round pi to 3