# Gravitational field (variation of g with latitude)

#### goldsomecriss

Anyone know why should the mg' does not directed downward straight(90°) but slanted to the left side which merely same with mg?

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#### studiot

Your diagram, although grossly oversize, clearly shows that a body on the surface of the Earth experiences two forces.

1) An attraction due to gravity directed towards the centre of the Earth

2) A centripetal force due to rotation directed towards the north south axis of rotation.

On a sphere the first force is the same everywhere, but the second force varies with distance from the axis of rotation (ie latitude). It is zero at the poles and maximum on the equator.

The total forces is the vector sum of these two.

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#### goldsomecriss

Your diagram, although grossly oversize, clearly shows that a body on the surface of the Earth experiences two forces.

1) An attraction due to gravity directed towards the centre of the Earth

2) A centripetal force due to rotation directed towards the north south axis of rotation.

On a sphere the first force is the same everywhere, but the second force varies with distance from the axis of rotation (ie latitude). It is zero at the poles and maximum on the equator.

The total forces is the vector sum of these two.
get it, thanks a lot!

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