What is the distance from the Earth's center to a point in space where the gravitational acceleration due to the Earth is 1/24 of its value at the Earth's surface?

1 Answer
George C.
May 24, 2016

Approximately 20,000 miles or 32,000 kilometers.

Explanation:

The radius of the Earth is approximately 4000 miles.

Gravity obeys an inverse square law, decreasing by the square of the distance from the centre.

So the gravitational acceleration due to the Earth will be 1/24th at a distance:

sqrt(24)*4000 ~~ sqrt(25)*4000 = 5*4000 = 20000 miles.

1 mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers, so that's about:

20000 * 1.6 = 32000 kilometers.

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