Solved Example Problems for Centrifugal Force due to Rotation of the Earth

Solved Example Problems for Centrifugal Force due to Rotation of the Earth

Example 3.26

Calculate the centrifugal force experienced by a man of 60 kg standing at Chennai? (Given: Latitude of Chennai is 13°

Solution

The  centrifugal force is given by Fc = mω2 R cosθ

The angular velocity (ω) of Earth = 2π/T.

where T is time period of the Earth (24 hours)

The radius of the Earth R = 6400 Km = 6400 × 103 m

Latitude of Chennai =13°

A 60 kg man experiences centrifugal force of approximately 2 Newton. But due to Earth’s gravity a man of 60 kg experiences a force =mg = 60 Ã— 9.8 = 588N. This force is very much larger than the centrifugal force.