Which one of the following statements is correct ?

Which one of the following statements is correct ?

Acceleration due to gravity decreases with the increase of altitude
Acceleration due to gravity increases with the increase of depth (assuming earth to be a sphere of uniform density)
Acceleration due to gravity decreases with the increase of latitude
Acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the earth
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
Statement A is correct. The acceleration due to gravity (g) on the surface of the Earth is given by the formula g = GM/R², where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the Earth, and R is the distance from the center of the Earth. As altitude increases, R increases. Since g is inversely proportional to R², an increase in R leads to a decrease in g.
Understanding how the acceleration due to gravity varies with altitude, depth, latitude, and the mass of the celestial body is essential.
Statement B is incorrect: Acceleration due to gravity decreases with increasing depth inside the Earth. At depth d below the surface, g’ = g(1 – d/R), where R is the radius of the Earth. It becomes zero at the Earth’s center.
Statement C is incorrect: Acceleration due to gravity increases with increasing latitude, from the equator to the poles. This is due to the Earth’s equatorial bulge (closer to the center at poles) and the effect of Earth’s rotation (centrifugal force is maximum at the equator).
Statement D is incorrect: Acceleration due to gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the Earth (M).
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