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How does the Earth’s rotation affect the measurement of the weight of an object at the equator?

How does the Earth’s rotation affect the measurement of the weight of an object at the equator?

Grade:12th pass

2 Answers

Arun
25750 Points
4 years ago
First consider that the Earth is stationary. The weight of the person say mg is balanced by the normal force N thereby accounting for the vertical equilibrium of person.
With the Earth rotating, the centrifugal force acts on the person, pushing him away from the axis of rotation. Therefore the centrifugal force acts opposite to the direction of weight mg such that the net weight of the person is mg - Fc (where Fc is the centrifugal force on the person).
Thus one can see that the net weight of the person is lower in magnitude than its weight, had the Earth not been rotating. Therefore the rotation of Earth reduces the effective weight of the person.
Vikas TU
14149 Points
3 years ago
 the earth's rotation makes the weight of objects a little less at the equator. Gravity pulls down, but the object needs to accelerate in the downwards direction in order to stay in a circular path around the Earth's rotational axis in order to stay on the Earth's surface as it turns.

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