Question

The acceleration due to gravity is:

• A. more at the equator than at the poles
• B. not effected by the rotation of the earth
• C. affected by the rotation of the earth
• D. not effected by the latitude

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The acceleration due to gravity is directed toward the earth's centre of mass, and has a standardised average value of 9.807 m/$s^2$. The acceleration of gravity is less at the equator because the earth has a slight bulge and it's the greatest at the north and south pole. The variance is negligible though. This bulge is the result of the centrifugal force. Since the earth rotates faster at the equator the centrifugal forces are greater.