Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Test

Chapter

General Knowledge

Topic

Physics

Question:

At which of the following place, weight of an object is maximum?

Options:

At equator

At poles

At tropic of Cancer

At tropic of Capricorn

Correct Answer:

At poles

Explanation:

The correct answer s option 2. At poles.

Let's delve into the factors affecting the weight of an object at different latitudes:

1. Gravitational Force: The weight of an object is the force with which it is attracted towards the center of the Earth due to gravity. Gravity is stronger closer to the Earth's center and weaker farther away from it.

2. Shape of the Earth: The Earth is approximately an oblate spheroid, meaning it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator due to its rotation. This shape affects the distribution of mass and hence the gravitational field strength.

Now, considering these factors, let's analyze the weight of an object at different latitudes:

At the Poles: At the poles, such as the North Pole and South Pole, the distance from the object to the center of the Earth is relatively small because these points are closest to the Earth's center. As a result, the gravitational force acting on the object is the strongest at the poles. Therefore, the weight of an object is maximum at the poles.

At the Equator: At the equator, the Earth's bulge causes the distance from the object to the center of the Earth to be slightly larger compared to the poles. This greater distance results in a slightly weaker gravitational force compared to the poles. Therefore, the weight of an object at the equator is slightly less than at the poles.

At Other Latitudes: The weight of an object varies at other latitudes between the poles and the equator. As you move away from the equator towards the poles, the weight of the object gradually increases due to the decrease in distance from the center of the Earth.

In summary, the weight of an object is maximum at the poles due to the shorter distance from the object to the center of the Earth, resulting in a stronger gravitational force compared to other latitudes.