What is meant by acceleration due to gravity ? Is it a scalar or a vector?

When a body falls freely towards the Earth’s surface, its velocity continuously increases. The acceleration responsible for this motion is called acceleration due to gravity. It is denoted by g and is a vector quantity directed towards the center of the Earth. The value of g is constant at a given location, but it varies across different places on Earth’s surface. Factors such as altitude, depth, Earth’s rotation, and its shape affect the variation of g. Acceleration due to gravity does not depend on the mass, size, or shape of the body. Using lasers, distances can be measured up to 10⁻⁹ meters, and time can be measured to an accuracy of 10⁻⁹ seconds with electronic devices. By observing the free fall of a body in a vacuum, g can be determined with an accuracy of 1 part in 10⁸. Near Earth’s surface, the value of g is approximately 9.8 m/s² or 32 ft/s².