The magnitude of gravity remains constant at all points along the geoid
The magnitude of gravity is not constant across the geoid; it varies due to factors such as mass distribution, Earth's rotation, and local topographic anomalies.
By definition in geodesy, the geoid is an equipotential surface of the Earth's gravity field, meaning the gravitational potential is constant on it, but the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration (gravity) vector varies from point to point because of variations in mass density, latitude (centrifugal force), and topography. The retrieved papers confirm that gravity fields and geoid gradients exhibit spatial variability rather than uniform constancy.
P. Thomas. Gravity, Tides, and Topography on Small Satellites and Asteroids: Application to Surface Features of the Martian Satellites. 1993. https://doi.org/10.1006/ICAR.1993.1130
The study discusses how surface gravity on irregular bodies varies due to gravitational potential, shape, and rotational/tidal effects rather than remaining uniform.
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Yaoguo Li. Understanding curvatures of the equipotential surface in gravity gradiometry. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2017-0612.1
The analysis of curvatures of equipotential surfaces demonstrates that gravity gradients and local anomalies cause spatial variations along these surfaces.
R. Tenzer, Pavel Novák, Mehdi Eshagh. The Radial Integral of the Geopotential. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-025-09893-9
The examination of the geopotential and disturbing potential shows spatial patterns and variations across the geoid rather than a constant magnitude of gravity.
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