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MCQ · Q2

Q.The weight of a particle at the centre of the Earth is (A) infinite. (B) zero. (C) same as that at other places. (D) greater than at the poles.

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The acceleration due to gravity at depth d below the surface is gd=g(1−dR)g_d=g\left(1-\dfrac{d}{R}\right), derived from the shell theorem: only the mass of the smaller inner sphere of radius (R−d)(R-d) pulls on a particle at depth d, since the surrounding shell of thickness d contributes zero net force (the point lies inside it). At the very centre of the Earth, d=Rd=R, so gd=g(1−R/R)=g(0)=0g_d=g(1-R/R)=g(0)=0. Since weight is w=mgdw=mg_d, the weight of a particle at the centre is exactly zero, regardless of its mass -- it is pulled equally in every direction by the surrounding mass, and all these pulls cancel by perfect symmetry. [!ANSWER] (B) zero.

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