Yes, Earth rotates faster at the equator than at the poles. This difference in rotational speed is due to the effect of the planet's shape and the centrifugal force resulting from its rotation.
Earth is not a perfect sphere but is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation. This shape is known as an oblate spheroid. Because the equator is farther from the rotational axis compared to the poles, points along the equator have to cover a greater distance in the same amount of time.
The rotational speed of Earth is measured in terms of angular velocity, which is the angle of rotation per unit of time. At the equator, Earth's angular velocity is about 0.00417 degrees per second (or 15 degrees per hour), while at the poles, it is effectively zero. This means that a point on the equator completes a full rotation around the planet's axis in approximately 24 hours, while a point near the poles effectively stays in the same place relative to the rotation.
To put it into perspective, the difference in rotational speed between the equator and the poles leads to a speed difference of about 1,670 kilometers per hour (1,037 miles per hour). This is the speed at which a point on the equator is moving due to Earth's rotation and is known as the "equatorial speed" or "tangential velocity." At the poles, this speed is effectively zero since there is no rotation in that direction.
It's important to note that the concept of centrifugal force is not a force itself but rather an apparent force that arises in a rotating reference frame. In this case, the centrifugal force is a result of Earth's rotation and contributes to the shape of the planet and the difference in rotational speed between the equator and the poles.