To determine who is feeling the most pull from Earth's gravity among the friends at the top of the mountain, we need to consider the concept of gravitational force. The gravitational force between an object and the Earth is determined by two main factors: the mass of the object and the distance from the center of the Earth.
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Mass of the Friends: The gravitational force on each friend is proportional to their mass. A heavier friend will feel a stronger gravitational pull than a lighter friend because gravitational force (F) can be expressed with the formula: \[ F = m \cdot g \] where \( m \) is the mass of the person and \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s² at the Earth's surface.
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Distance from the Center of the Earth: The distance from the center of the Earth increases slightly as you go higher in elevation (like at the top of a mountain). Generally, gravitational force decreases with an increase in altitude because the force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the center of the Earth (as per the equation of gravitational force). However, since a mountain is relatively small compared to Earth's radius, this effect is minimal.
At the top of a mountain, all friends are at approximately the same elevation. Therefore, the primary factor that would determine who feels the most pull from Earth's gravity is their respective mass.
In conclusion, to find out who is feeling the most pull from Earth's gravity, the friends should compare their masses. The friend with the greatest mass will feel the strongest gravitational pull.
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