Is there less gravitational pull near the poles or equator?

Answer 1

The Earth is a slightly prolate (flattened) spheroid, which means that the distance between the poles is a little less than the distance between two opposite points on the Equator. So the gravitational pull is slightly less at the poles, because there is less mass (matter) pulling us toward the center of the planet when we are there.

This being the case, why does NASA launch from Florida? Why are other nations trying to get rights to launch from the equator…? That is because the Earth’s spin helps to throw the rocket into orbit. The circumference at the equator is about 24,000 miles, and since the Earth rotates once in 24 hrs, that is an extra 1000 miles per hour that the rocket is already travelling, which it would not have if it were launched from the pole.

12 DEC 06, 0210 hrs, GMT.

Answer 2

There is NO SUCH THING as centrifugal force!! We physics teachers have struggled for years to keep students from thinking that there is some mysterious force that pushes on a rotating object.

Now to answer your question. It has been determined that the earth is not exactly spherical. Because of our rapid rotation, the diamter of the Earth at the Equator is slightly more than the diameter of the Earth when measured from pole to pole. Imagine an egg, with the sides of the the egg being the north and south pole, the ends being the equator. Obviously, the Earth is not THAT extreme in its oval-like shape, but you get the picture.

But how does any of this relate to the gravitational pull? Well, you know that the further away an object is from the center of Earth's gravity, the weaker the gravitational pull will be. In outer space, when you are several million miles away from the center of Earth's gravity, you are virtually weightless, are you not? So, we can determine that the distance you are away from the center of gravity affects how much gravity you experience.

Finally, it can be stated that there IS less gravitational pull at the equator, because the equator is a little further away from the center of the earth than the poles are. You probably won't notice the difference, however. Gravity is still going to be 9.81 m/s^2 for all conventional purposes. If you find the gravitational pull out to 5 or 6 decimal places, though, you would find a difference in gravitational pull. Sorry for being so long-winded, but I want you grasp the concept!! (That comes from being a teacher...) Hope this helps.

Answer 3

It is stronger near the poles. The earth is shaped like an oval. The pull of gravity increases the closer an object is to the center of the earth. The equator is father from the center than it is at the poles.

If you would like me to explain it to you further, email me.

Answer 4

Well, if memory serves me right--it's lower at the equator, because it bulges slightly, so is further away from the center; whereas the poles are slightly flattened. What counts is how far you are away from the center of the earth. So, therefore, you weigh less up on a mountain than down in Death Valley.

Answer 5

Less at the equator because the centrifugal force is the greatest there, which tries to oppose gravity slightly.

Answer 6

near the equator