I feel like I’ve thought about this my entire life and can never wrap my head around it.
****On a merry go round the further you get from center the more centrifugal force you feel and consequently the more centripetal force (they are equal and opposite if you are at equilibrium). But at the center they are both net zero.
****On earth, presumably the equator would exert the maximum centripetal force due to it being the furthest away from the axis. The centripetal force keeping you on the ground is gravity and that equals your centrifugal force trying to fling you off earth.
****But at the poles, how….. and why….. where tf did gravity go? There’s no centrifugal force which means there’s no equal and opposite centripetal force (gravity).
Ah yes I know the formula. I remember sitting in electrical engineering prereq classes asking the professor if they understood the similarities in the two equations. Thanks for the reminder I have practiced much EE recently. But that’s something I’m gonna rabbit hole.