Question

Identical packets are dropped from two airplanes, one above the equator and another above the North Pole, both at height ‘h’. Assuming all conditions are identical, will those packets take the same time to reach the surface of the earth. Justify your answer.

Answer 1

The value of acceleration due to gravity ‘g’ at the equator of the earth is less than that at poles. Therefore, the packet falls slowly at the equator in comparison to the poles. Thus, the packet will remain in the air for a longer time interval, when it is dropped at the equator.