Virtual Gravity

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Virtual Gravity

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The force of gravity on an atmospheric parcel, reduced by centrifugal force due to the motion of the parcel relative to the earth. The virtual gravity g* is g* = g = V²/a - 2Ω_nV , where g is the magnitude of the acceleration of gravity; V is the parcel speed; a is the earth's radius; and Ω_n is the component of the earth's angular velocity vector normal to the motion of the parcel. </dd>
For reasonable atmospheric values, the correction terms are of the order of 0.01 percent of the magnitude of gravity. The identity of g* and g is implied by the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. [[/a>|/a> ]]

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use