If the speed of rotation of Earth about its axis increases, then the weight of the body at the equator will:
Correct answer: B. Decrease
- A. Increase
- B. Decrease
- C. Remain unchanged
- D. Sometimes decrease and sometimes increase
Explanation
The following is the solution: Decrease: This is the correct answer. As mentioned above, an increase in the speed of Earth's rotation would lead to a decrease in the effective gravitational force experienced by an object at the equator. This is because the centrifugal force (outward force due to rotation) counteracts some of the gravitational force, resulting in a reduced weight for objects at the equator. Due to rotation, the effective value of g is g'= g - ω2Rcos2λ. Now, ω increases so g′ will decrease & so weight = mg′ will reduce.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? support@testustad.com
About Gravitation
Newton’s law of universal gravitation relates the force between masses to their masses and separation, while gravitational field strength explains weight and orbital motion. The topic covers satellite velocity and period, escape ideas, weightlessness in free fall, and artificial gravity, which differs from ordinary gravitational attraction.
Practise Gravitation
265 free Gravitation MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 11 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Gravitation questions
The value of 'g' on poles is:
If the distance between two masses is doubled, the gravitational attraction between them is:
If the radius of the Earth becomes half of its present value (mass remaining the same), the new length of the day would be:
The two moving particles collide and clump together on a smooth horizontal surface. The following statements are given below:
A 2 kg body falls from infinity to the surface of earth. What will be the kinetic energy of the body on reaching the surface of Earth (Assume escape velocity to be 104 ms-1)?
The weight of the body at the center of the Earth is: