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Earth and Weight Differences
Name: Charles
Status: N/A
Age: 60s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
Due to centrifugal force induced by the earth's rotation, would a person weigh less, standing at the equator North or South Poles?
Replies:
Yes, around 3% less.
Tim Mooney
Because of the Earth's rotation it is not a perfect sphere, but described
as an oblate spheroid. The Earth is slightly flattened at the poles and
slightly bulged at the equator. Therefore, a person standing at the equator
would weigh slightly less than at either of the Poles. The weight
difference however is not very significant, only about 0.3%, because the
distance from the Earth's center is only slightly different.
Steve Miller
Yes. The effect is small, but real.
Barrans
A person who is standing on a mountain top will weigh less than a person
standing at sea level (or below), however, Earths gravity is equal all
around, since it is nearly circular. The rotation of the earth cannot be
detected('felt') by us, nor can it be detected by a scale.
Katie Page
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Update: June 2012
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