Can a person who jumps from a point on the equator jump higher than he or she would from the north pole?

Question

If so, what would the difference be say if a person had a vertical of two feet at the north pole?

Answer 1

They could, theoretically, jump higher while on the equator. The earth is spinning... this contributes in two ways:

1) the spin causes the earth to flatten out a bit (an oblate sphere, as has been noted). This means that at the equator you're farther from the center of the earth than you are at the north pole. Because gravitational pull is a function of the inverse square of the distance, this means that gravity pulls less on you on the equator than elsewhere.

2) the spin of the earth gives you an inertia that makes it easier to jump than if you were on the side of a non-rotating sphere. If you've ever been on the starship ride at the fair, you know that rotation can seem to "throw" you out away from the center... and earth's rotation acts the same way.

As to calculating the difference in height, it wouldnt' be statistically significant and it also wouldn't be accurate at all since there are other highly important variables.

Answer 2

Yes, a little bit, as gravity is greater at the poles than the equater

The earth is an oblate spheroid ( a slightly squashed sphere)

Answer 3

Is gravity greater at the poles? I thought it was an oblate spheriod because it spins...Not because there is "more" gravity at the poles...I believe that gravity is uniform around the globe...But than again I could be wrong.