3. Because of rotation about the axis the shape of Earth is not exactly spherical. It is flattened from the poles. Assuming that the shape of Earth is stable calculate the difference in the distances from the center to the pole and to the equator, $a - b$.
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The radius of the Earth at the equator is denoted as a, and the radius at the poles is denoted as b. Show more…
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The Earth's rotation causes a flattening at the poles, so its shape is often modeled as an oblate spheroid rather than a sphere (see Exercise 53 for terminology. One of the models used by global positioning satellites is the World Geodetic System of $1984(\mathrm{WGS}-84),$ which treats the Earth as an oblate spheroid whose equatorial radius is $6378.1370 \mathrm{km}$ and whose polar radius (the distance from the Earth's center to the poles) is $6356.5231 \mathrm{km}$. Use the WGS- 84 model to find an equation for the surface of the Earth relative to the coordinate system shown in the accompanying figure.
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Earth rotates on an axis through its poles. The distance from the axis to a location on Earth at $30^{\circ}$ north latitude is about 3429.5 miles Therefore, a location on Earth at $30^{\circ}$ north latitude is spinning on a circle of radius 3429.5 miles. Compute the linear speed on the surface of Earth at $30^{\circ}$ north latitude.
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