Question

What is the effect of centripetal force on earth at equator and at poles?

Answer 1

Hint: To solve this question one needs to clearly understand what a centripetal force is. We know that a force is required for an object to move. The force depends on the type of motion exhibited by an object. For a curvilinear motion, two types of forces come into play. One of them is the centripetal force and the other one is the centrifugal force.

Complete step by step answer:
Centripetal force for a body in a circular path is the one in which the force acts towards the center whereas the centrifugal force acts in a direction that points away from the center. Centrifugal force is equal and opposite in direction to the centripetal force.
Since the equator spins fast in response to the earth, it results in a large centrifugal force. However, at the poles, there is no spinning at all. Hence, the centrifugal force at the poles is zero.
Since the Earth is rotating there is more centrifugal force at the equator rather than at the poles. As a result of this effect, one weighs less on the equator than at the poles. This slight reduction in weight is not because there is a change to the body, rather it is because of the gravitational force and other forces that are altered as one approaches the poles.

Note: Centrifugal force is a force that is equal but opposite in direction to the centripetal force. These forces act on bodies that execute the circular motion. They are zero in magnitude at the poles and maximum near the equator as a result of the spinning of the earth. As a consequence of these forces, one weighs less near the equator than at the poles.