What is the acceleration caused by the force of gravity acting on an object?

The acceleration caused by the force of gravity acting on an object, often referred to as gravitational acceleration, is commonly approximated as 9.81 m/s² at the surface of the Earth. This value represents how much an object's velocity increases per second when falling freely under the influence of gravity, neglecting air resistance.

While the other values might seem plausible as approximations in different contexts, 9.81 m/s² is the most widely accepted standard. For practical calculations or simplified models, values like 10 m/s² are often used, especially in educational settings, but they are not as precise. The values of 9.86 m/s² and 8.9 m/s² are less commonly used and do not accurately represent the standard gravitational acceleration at Earth's surface. Therefore, the accepted value for gravitational acceleration is indeed 9.81 m/s², making it the key figure for understanding how gravity affects objects in motion.