Why does stuff weight less at the equator then at the poles

Question

Why does stuff weight less at the equator then at the poles

Answer 1

Centrifugal force. You're traveling 1,000mph at the equator and standing still at the poles. The distance to the core doesn't really change much.

Answer 2

Gravity of a stuff over the earth is given by g = GM/r² where g is the gravity,G is a constant, M is the mass of the stuff and r is the radius of the earth.As the radius of the earth is greater at the poles, weight (= Mg) is less at the equator.

Answer 3

weight = mass * acceleration of gravity g

g = (G)(M) / (R ^ 2)

G=6.67E - 11

M= earth mass 5.97E + 24 kg

R= earth radius 6,378,100 m

plug the data

g = 9.79 m/s^2

as the earth spin the acceleration due to centrifugal force is

a = [ (v ^ 2) / R ] cos x

v = earth angular velocity = (2 pi) / [ (24)(60)(60 ]

R= earth radius same as before

at equator, x = 0   cos 0 = 1

plug the data

a = 0.03373 m/s^2

effective g = 9.79 - 0.03373 = 9.75 m/s^2

at the poles, x = 90   cos 90 = 0

plug the data

a = 0

effective g = 9.79 - 0 = 9.79 m/s^2

weight at equator = m * 9.75   is less

weight at poles = m * 9.79   is more

this is because of the higher acceleration at the equator due centrifugal force as the earth spin, as the person walks from equator towards the pole, the angle x change from 0 to 90 degrees

Answer 4

weight is a measurement in terms of how much gravity is pulling the object down. the poles are slightly flattened. if you think of gravity as a source pulling things down towards the earth's core, then the slightly flattened poles are so to speak closer to the core. thus, if a person would be standing there, the force of gravity would be stronger, pulling him down more, and thus causing him/her to weigh more