Consider the following statements 1. A rubber ball bounces higher at the equator than at the poles. 2. When two persons walk on the moon, they hear each other with lower frequency. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

Statement 1 is correct because the acceleration due to gravity (g) is lower at the equator than at the poles. This variation occurs because the Earth is an oblate spheroid with an equatorial bulge, making the equator further from the Earth's center [c1, t1]. Additionally, centrifugal force is maximum at the equator and zero at the poles, further reducing the apparent weight [c2, t2]. Since a lower 'g' allows for a higher bounce height (h ∝ 1/g), a ball bounces higher at the equator. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Moon lacks a significant atmosphere to act as a medium for sound waves [t5, t7]. Sound is a mechanical wave that cannot propagate in a vacuum [t8]. Therefore, two persons walking on the Moon cannot hear each other at all through the lunar environment, regardless of frequency, unless using electronic communication.

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: The Origin and Evolution of the Earth > Indirect Sources > p. 19
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 7: Tectonics > Forces Behind The Drifting Of Continents (According to Wegener) > p. 95