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⚛️ Physics  ·  Gravitation  ·  NEET & JEE

The value of g on the Earth is greatest:

Answer: at the poles.

  • A at the equator
  • B on a mountain top
  • C at the poles
  • D at sea level near the equator

Correct answer: C. at the poles

Explanation: Earth is flattened at the poles (smaller radius) and rotation reduces effective g at the equator, so g is maximum at the poles.

Variation of g with Height and Depthgg_surfaceAbove surface: g ∝ 1/r² (falls off curving down)Below surface: g ∝ r (falls off LINEARLY)Earth's surface (r = R)centre (r=0): g=0g is MAXIMUM exactly at the surface - it decreases in both directions, but by different laws

g is maximum at Earth's surface; going up, it falls off as 1/r² (inverse-square); going down, it falls off linearly with depth (since only the mass enclosed within radius r contributes), reaching zero at the centre.

Concept context

Universal gravitation, orbital mechanics, gravitational potential, and escape velocity.

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