g-force

thumb|In straight and level flight, lift (L) equals weight (W). In a steady level banked turn of 60°, lift equals double the weight (L = 2W). The pilot experiences 2 g and a doubled weight. The steeper the bank, the greater the g-forces. thumb|This Top Fuel dragster can accelerate from zero to in 0.86 seconds. This is a horizontal acceleration of 5.3 g. Combining this with the vertical g-force in the stationary case using the [[Pythagorean theorem yields a g-force of 5.4 g.]]

The g-force or gravitational force equivalent is a mass-specific force (force per unit mass), expressed in units of standard gravity (symbol g or g0, not to be confused with "g", the symbol for grams). It is used for sustained accelerations that cause a perception of weight. For example, an object at rest on Earth's surface is subject to 1 g, equaling the conventional value of gravitational acceleration on Earth, about . More transient acceleration, accompanied with significant jerk, is called shock.