Question

As we go from the equator to the poles, the value of g :

• A. Remains the same
• B. Decreases
• C. Increases
• D. Decreases upto altitude of ${45}^o$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Increases

The gravitational acceleration due to the earth is $g=\frac{GM}{R^2}$, where $M$ is the mass of the earth and $R$ is the radius of the earth.

Our planet earth is not an absolute sphere. It has an orange-like structure - flattened at the poles, bulged at the equator. So the radius of the earth is more in the equatorial region as compared to that of the polar region. So, $R_{equatorial}>R_{poles}$.

$\therefore g_{poles}>g_{equator}$