Maximum Latitude Difference for Equal Centripetal and Gravitational Acceleration

[Loren Booda]

In either the northern or southern hemisphere, what is the maximum difference in latitude between two places measuring the same total centripetal and gravitational accelerations?

 

[zhermes]

... it depends on your accuracy/sensitivity. No two different latitudes on one hemisphere have the exact same values.

 

[Loren Booda]

I thought a standard weight measured over the Earth's surface would vary continuously.

 

[billiards]

Gravity is also a function of geology, elevation, and time (due to the movement of celestial bodies).

I don't know the answer but I am curious ... Why do you ask the question?

 

[zhermes]

I thought a standard weight measured over the Earth's surface would vary continuously.

For the most part yes, absolutely. The correction due to the centripetal force is pretty simple, and for any given model of oblate-ness, you can correct for that. Most likely variations due to geology (etc) would be entirely negligible, but again, it depends on your situation and sensitivities.

Actually, depending on the particular nature of the obliquity, it is possible that at different latitudes your weight would be the same (finding different balances between centripetal force and variations due to radius and asymmetry)---but it would depend on the particular models.

 

[Loren Booda]

I don't know the answer but I am curious ... Why do you ask the question?

I find it aesthetically intriguing how two most widely separated points would have the same magnitude of acceleration as mapped on the Earth's surface.

 

[Andre]

Hmm at this point maybe a reference to http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/science/ would help?

[URL]http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/gallery/animations/ggm01/ggm01-200.gif[/URL]