The highest gravity on Earth is at the poles.
Explanation
While gravity's strength depends primarily on mass and distance, the Earth's shape and rotation cause slight variations in gravitational pull across its surface. Here's a breakdown:
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Oblate Spheroid Shape: The Earth isn't a perfect sphere; it's an oblate spheroid, meaning it bulges at the equator and is flattened at the poles. This bulge means that the surface at the equator is farther from the Earth's center of mass than the surface at the poles.
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Distance Matters: Because gravity decreases with distance, locations closer to the Earth's center experience slightly stronger gravity. The poles, being closer to the Earth's center than the equator, have a higher gravitational pull.
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Centrifugal Force: The Earth's rotation generates centrifugal force, which acts opposite to gravity. This force is strongest at the equator (where rotational speed is highest) and weakest at the poles (where rotational speed is near zero). This centrifugal force effectively reduces the perceived gravity at the equator.
Therefore, due to being closer to the Earth's center and experiencing minimal centrifugal force, gravity is strongest at the poles.
