Question

Why does the weight of an object change from place to place?

Answer 1

Explanation

1. Weight is a major function of gravity, it varies from location to place.
2. $\mathrm{Weight}=\mathrm{mass}\times accelerationdueto\mathrm{gravity}$
3. Mass is constant everywhere. As a result, weight varies as gravity changes.
4. That is to say, a body will not weigh the same amount everywhere on the planet.

Variations in weight can be caused by the following factors:

1. The earth's shape is an oblate spheroid, which means that its radius is not consistent over its surface. As a result, certain regions are closer to the earth's center (for example, the poles), while others are further away (the equator).
2. According to Newton's law of universal gravity, an object's weight is proportional to the square of its mean distance (also called inverse square law). This is why an object placed near the equator will be lighter than one placed near the pole.
3. Other factors that cause weight variation over the earth's surface include the earth's rotation, altitude, and local topography.