Relative acceleration from force and acceleration due to gravity

Suppose a reference frame \(S'\) is fixed to a moving body \(A\) (e.g. Earth). For some body \(B\) we can write a vector equation of motion relative to \(S'\) in the gravitational field of body \(A\) with the rotation of body \(A\) taken into consideration. From this, we can gather the meaning of the acceleration due to gravity, also known as the free fall acceleration: it is the acceleration of body \(B\) relative to \(S'\) in the absence of external forces (\(\vec F = 0\)) in the stationary case (the velocity of body \(B\) relative to \(S'\) is zero, i.e. \(\vec v = 0\) and \({\vec a}_\text{Cor} = 0\)).

relative_acceleration

Vector of relative acceleration of body \(B\) relative to \(S'\)

Symbol:

a_rel

Latex:

\({\vec a}_\text{rel}\)

Dimension:

acceleration

force

Vector of the net non-gravitational force exerted on body \(B\).

Symbol:

F

Latex:

\({\vec F}\)

Dimension:

force

mass

mass of body \(B\).

Symbol:

m

Latex:

\(m\)

Dimension:

mass

coriolis_acceleration

Vector of the Coriolis acceleration of body \(B\).

Symbol:

a_Cor

Latex:

\({\vec a}_\text{Cor}\)

Dimension:

acceleration

acceleration_due_to_gravity

Vector of the acceleration due to gravity.

Symbol:

g

Latex:

\({\vec g}\)

Dimension:

acceleration

law

a_rel = g - a_Cor + F / m

Latex:
\[{\vec a}_\text{rel} = {\vec g} - {\vec a}_\text{Cor} + \frac{{\vec F}}{m}\]