Chapter 12, Problem 1OQ

To determine

To compare the buildings center of mass and center of gravity.

Answer to Problem 1OQ

Option (b)

Explanation of Solution

In this case, the skyscraper is about $300\text{m}$ tall and the gravitational field is weaker at the top around 900 parts in million which is of the order of around ${10}^{-4}$ times.

The weight of the top half of the building is around $\frac{{10}^{-4}}{2}$ times lighter than as that of the bottom half because of the gravitational variation.

Thus, by comparing the exact center of mass location of the building which is corresponds to the geometrical center, the center of gravity will occupy by a point down of about $\frac{{10}^{-4}}{2}\left(150\text{m}\right)$, which is nearly $10\text{mm}$

Conclusion:

Therefore, the center of mass is higher by a distance of several millimeters as that of center of gravity and hence option (b) is correct.