The Earth’s rotation actually causes us to “lose weight” at the equator.

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The Earth’s rotation also causes the acceleration of free fall to be lower at the equator.

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So how big an effect does the Earth’s rotation have?

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In an orbiting space station, where the gravitational acceleration is exactly equal to the centripetal acceleration, apparent g drops to zero.

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Actually, it does not have to be centripetal acceleration. As long as we free fall together with our (also free falling) vehicle, we become weightless.

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As long as the plane accelerates at g downward, you experience zero g.

• 07 Gravitation