Which of the following statements about the acceleration due to gravity (g) is incorrect?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → g increases due to the rotation of the Earth
The rotation of the Earth reduces the effective value of g: part of the gravitational pull is used to keep a body moving in a circle with the Earth. This effect is largest at the equator and zero at the poles, so the statement in Option (4) is the incorrect one.
The other three statements are true. The value of g is greatest at the Earth’s surface and falls with height and with depth. It is maximum at the poles and minimum at the equator, because the poles are nearer the centre of the Earth and are not affected by the rotation.