Does everyone learn the same gravity in school or is it different everywhere?

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?

RedWeasel ,

While I don’t know the answer and that for simplicity it should probably be a global average, it is probably some “constant“ measured from some location in either Europe or North America before they were able to measure globally using satellites.

pixxelkick ,

It’s at sea level :)

RedWeasel ,

Which sea? The Indian ocean if I recall correctly has a very low gravity value.

milicent_bystandr ,

Wow, I also didn’t know it varied so much. I assumed it would be within about 9.81±0.01 worldwide, since I (in UK) was also taught ~=9.81m/s^2

Knuschberkeks ,
@Knuschberkeks@feddit.de avatar

we learned it was about 9.8. We actually measured what it was near our school, and I think it came out to 9.82. We were told it was ok to use either 9.8, 9.82 or 10 in exams.

mvilain ,
@mvilain@kbin.social avatar

This is why you have so many Russians being thrown out of windows in high buildings. They're testing the local value of g.

GraniteM ,

Dimitri, come to the window! I have a stopwatch and questions about the local density of the Earth’s crust!

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