Chapter 13, Problem 13A

What is the value of Earth’s gravitational field at the center of Earth?

To determine

The value of Earth’s gravitational field at the center of Earth.

Answer to Problem 13A

Zero

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The region surrounding the Earth in which the other particles experience a force of attraction towards the Earth is called Earth’s gravitational field. The gravitational field is a vector quantity and is directed towards the center of the earth. The gravitational field will become smaller as the particles move farther away from the Earth.

The gravity is produced only by the attraction to the mass of a particle. Once the particle approaches the center of Earth, it experiences more attractive force from all sides of the Earth. When the particle really reach the actual center of Earth, it experiences nearly same attractive force from all sides of the earth. Hence they cancel each other and the mean gravitational field becomes zero.