At the center of the earth, the value of "g" becomes_:
Correct answer: D. Zero
- A. Greater
- B. Decreases
- C. Increases
- D. Zero
Explanation
At the center of the Earth, the gravitational acceleration ( g ) theoretically becomes zero. This is because, at the center of a spherically symmetric mass distribution, the gravitational forces from all directions cancel each other out. As you move towards the center, the mass above you pulls you in one direction, but the mass in the opposite direction also pulls you. At the center, these forces balance, resulting in a net gravitational force of zero. The formula for gravitational acceleration near the surface of a massive sphere (like Earth) is given by: g= GMearth/R2earth where: - g is the gravitational acceleration, - G is the gravitational constant 6.67430 x 10-11 Nm2/Kg2 - Mearth is the mass of the Earth, and - Rearth is the radius of the Earth. As you approach the center Rearth=0 g theoretically approaches zero. However, in practice, the Earth is not a perfect sphere, and there are other factors (such as variations in density and composition) that can affect the gravitational field. The above explanation assumes a simplified model of a spherically symmetric and homogeneous Earth.
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