Question

The weight of an object is more at the poles than at the equator. Is it beneficial to purchase goods at equator and sell them at the pole? Does it matter whether a spring balance is used or an equal-beam balance is used?

Accepted Answer

The weight of an object is more at the poles than that at the equator. As the value of acceleration due to gravity $(g)$ is more than that at the equator from the following relation,
$g = \frac{G M}{R^{2}}$ ,

where, $G$ is the universal gravitational constant,

$M$ is the mass of the earth and

$R$ is the radius of the earth.

As the earth is not a perfect sphere, the radius of the equator is larger than that of the pole (of a difference of about $22 km$ ), so the value of $g$ is at the pole greater than that of the equator.

As well as due to the rotation of the earth, the effective value of $g$ at the equator is smaller than that of the pole.

In beam balance, we calculate the mass of the object, as $g$ acts equally on both sides of the beam equally and cancel out each other. Hence, mass remains constant whether we measure at pole or equator.

But spring balance measures the weight $(m g)$ , so there may be an error in weighing at different places. As the value of $g$ is more at the pole than that at the equator, so it will not be beneficial to buy at the equator at sell at the pole using a spring balance. Therefore, beam balance has no effect on weighing.

H C Verma Solutions for Chapter: Gravitation, Exercise 1: QUESTIONS FOR SHORT ANSWERS

H C Verma Physics Solutions for Exercise - H C Verma Solutions for Chapter: Gravitation, Exercise 1: QUESTIONS FOR SHORT ANSWERS

Questions from H C Verma Solutions for Chapter: Gravitation, Exercise 1: QUESTIONS FOR SHORT ANSWERS with Hints & Solutions

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !