In 1956, Frank Lloyd Wright proposed the construction of a mile-high building in Chicago. Suppose the building had been constructed. Ignoring Earth's rotation, find the change in your weight if you were to ride an elevator from the street level, where you weigh 580 N, to the top of the building.

Question

In 1956, Frank Lloyd Wright proposed the construction of a mile-high building in Chicago. Suppose the building had been constructed. Ignoring Earth's rotation, find the change in your weight if you were to ride an elevator from the street level, where you weigh 580 N, to the top of the building.
  N

drwls · Answer

Use the inverse square law. You will need to look up the radius of the earth. It is about 3960 miles, as I recall. Square the ratio of the the distances to the center of the Earth at the top and the bottom of the building. Use that factor to compute the weight at the top, and the change. The weight there will be less.