Multiple choice

On earth, the weight of an object is

  1. minimum at the poles

  2. constant in every place

  3. maximum at the equator

  4. maximum at the poles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, bulging at the equator. The gravitational force (which determines weight) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from Earth's center. Since the poles are closer to the center than the equator, weight is maximum at the poles and minimum at the equator for the same mass.

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