Serway & Jewett — Circular Motion and Other Applications of Newton's Laws: Problem 37

Because the Earth rotates about its axis, a point on the equator experiences a centripetal acceleration of \( 0.0337 \text{ m/s}^2 \), whereas a point at the poles experiences no centripetal acceleration. If a person at the equator has a mass of \( 75.0 \text{ kg} \), calculate (a) the gravitational force (true weight) on the person and (b) the normal force (apparent weight) on the person. (c) Which force is greater? Assume the Earth is a uniform sphere and take \( g = 9.800 \text{ m/s}^2 \).