Moderate

When you move from the equator to the poles, the value of acceleration due to gravity (g):

Correct answer: A. Increases

  • A. Increases
  • B. Decreases
  • C. Remains the same
  • D. Increases then decreases

Explanation

This is the following solution: From the equation: g'=g - ω2 Re cos2λ Where λ is the latitude which is 0° at the equator and 90° at the poles. As you move from the equator to the pole, the value of acceleration due to gravity (g) increases. This is because the Earth is not a perfect sphere but slightly flattened at the poles, which results in a greater distance from the Earth's center at the equator. According to the law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, so the force of gravity is stronger at the poles than at the equator.

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Newton’s law of universal gravitation relates the force between masses to their masses and separation, while gravitational field strength explains weight and orbital motion. The topic covers satellite velocity and period, escape ideas, weightlessness in free fall, and artificial gravity, which differs from ordinary gravitational attraction.

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