For small heights above Earth’s surface and small depths below it

PHYSICS · Subjective · CBSE · Physics · Gravitation · Gravitation

Problem

For small heights h (≪RE)h\,(\ll R_{\rm E}) above Earth’s surface and small depths d (≪RE)d\,(\ll R_{\rm E}) below it, an object is observed to have the same weight. (a) Using suitable first–order approximations for the variation of weight with position, derive a relation connecting hh and dd. (b) If d=8 kmd=8\,\text{km}, calculate the corresponding height hh where the weight remains unchanged. Take RE=6400 kmR_{\rm E}=6400\,\text{km}.

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