Question

Statement I : Space rockets are usually launched in the equatorial line from west to east.
Statement II : The acceleration due to gravity is minimum at the equator.

• A. If both statement I and statement II are true and statement II is the correct explanation of statement I
• B. If both statement I and statement II are true but statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I
• C. If statement I is true but statement II is false
• D. If both statement I and statement II are false

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

We know that earth revolves from west to east about its polar axis. Therefore, all the particles on the earth have velocity from west to east.
This velocity is maximum in the equatorial line, as $v = R \omega$, where $R$ is the radius of earth and $\omega$ is the angular velocity of revolution of earth about its polar axis.
When a rocket is launched from west to east in equatorial plane, the maximum linear velocity is added to the launching velocity of the rocket, due to which launching becomes easier.