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The weight of any object is felt due to gravity of Earth. When any object goes inside the Earth or above the Earth, weight decreases. It will weigh minimum when an object is placed at :
Explanation
Weight is the gravitational force exerted on an object [1]. At the center of the Earth, the gravitational pull from all directions cancels out, resulting in a net gravitational force of zero, making an object weightless [1]. Similarly, in an orbiting satellite, objects experience apparent weightlessness because they are in a state of continuous free fall. While gravity still acts on the satellite to maintain its orbit, the absence of a supporting normal force (like a floor pushing back) means the weight is not 'felt'. In contrast, weight at the equator is only about 1% less than at the poles due to centrifugal force and the Earth's bulge [2]. On the Moon, weight is approximately one-sixth of that on Earth [2]. Therefore, the minimum weight (zero) is experienced at the Earth's center and within an orbiting satellite.
Sources
- [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Exploring Forces > A step further > p. 75
- [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Exploring Forces > Prepare some questions based on your learnings so far ... > p. 78