do i weigh more at sea level than at 9000 ft?

Answer 1

Yep...time to go on a diet.

Your weight at sea level = mg = W; which occurs when you are on the surface, R radius from the center of the Earth.

However, at R + h; where h = 9,000 ft above the surface, your new weight W' = W R^2/(R + h)^2; since R + h > R, it follows that W' < W. Notice that weight varies inversely as the square of the distance between the body of mass m and the center of the Earth. This inverse variance can be seen in F = G (mM)/r^2; where m is your mass, M is the Earth's mass, and r^2 is the distance between the two masses (i.e., R or R + h). G is a constant of proportionality.

Answer 2

Good question. Simple answer yes. There is a little more mass under you if you are on a mountain, but that is offset by the distance of the majority of the mass of the earth. If you are in a plane, then you are a bit lighter again. But it is VERY slight.

At sea level you are about 4,000 miles from the center of the mass of the earth. At 9000ft, you are about 4,002 miles away.

Answer 3

Yes, you do. When you are closer to the center of the earth, the gravitational pull is higher. And the gravitational pull is what determines your weight. Two additional thoughts:

1) The difference in weight is REALLY small.

2) Your mass doesn't change. In space you have the same mass, but are "weightless". If you were on the surface of a larger planet, your weight would be bigger, but your mass still the same.

Answer 4

Yes, but only very slightly. The Earth's pull of gravity on you decreases as you move farther from the center of the Earth.

Answer 5

Let's just put it this way, yes.

Answer 6

Yes, you do...