What should be the velocity of rotation of earth due to rotation about its own axis so that the weight of a person becomes (3)/(5) of the present weight at the equator. Equatorial radius of the earth is 6400km.
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At the equator, apparent weight decreases due to centrifugal force.
Always use: W = mg - mω² R for rotating frames.
Step 1: Let the angular velocity of earth be ω.
The apparent weight at the equator is:
W' = mg - mω² R
Step 2: Given that the weight becomes (3)/(5) of the original weight:
mg - mω² R = (3)/(5)mg
Step 3: Simplifying:
mω² R = mg - (3)/(5)mg = (2)/(5)mg
ω² = (2g)/(5R)
Step 4: Substituting values g = 9.8m/s², R = 6.4 × 10⁶m:
ω² = (2 × 9.8)/(5 × 6.4 × 10⁶)
= 6.125 × 10⁻7
ω = √6.125 × 10⁻7 ≈ 7.8 × 10⁻4rad/s