Final answer:
The value of gravitational acceleration above Earth decreases as you move away from the surface, calculated with the formula g = GM/(R+h)², where R is the Earth's radius, h is the height above the surface, and G is the gravitational constant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The value of gravitational acceleration (g) above the Earth at a distance h from its surface can be found using the law of universal gravitation. Gravitational acceleration at sea level is approximately 9.8 m/s². However, as you move away from the Earth's surface, this acceleration decreases. The formula g = GM/(R+h)² is used, where G is the universal gravitational constant (6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²), M is the mass of the Earth, R is the radius of the Earth, and h is the height above the Earth's surface. This formula is a more precise version, as opposed to treating g as a constant, which is typically done in simple calculations and up to certain levels of physics education.