What is the value of gravitational acceleration on Earth?

The value of gravitational acceleration on Earth is commonly expressed as 9.8 m/s². This indicates that an object in free fall will accelerate toward the Earth at this rate, with the unit indicating meters per second squared. It reflects the change in velocity an object experiences every second due to Earth's gravitational pull.

Understanding the units involved is crucial. The unit "N/kg" (Newtons per kilogram) can express gravitational acceleration, as 1 N/kg is equivalent to 1 m/s² due to how force, mass, and acceleration relate through Newton's second law (F = ma). This means that while 9.8 N/kg may represent the force per unit mass, the most precise and widely used representation of gravitational acceleration is in units of m/s².

The other options listed have units that do not accurately convey gravitational acceleration. 9.8 kg/m² pertains to density, while 9.8 J/kg refers to energy per unit mass, which is unrelated to the concept of acceleration due to gravity. These distinctions emphasize the necessity of using the correct units when discussing fundamental physical concepts such as gravitational acceleration.