Question

A sphere shell has inner radius R, outer radius R, and mass M, distributed uniformly throughout the shell. Find the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted on the shell by a point particle of mass m located at a distance d from the center, outside the inner radius and inside the outer radius.

Force of Gravity

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Hint

The mass of the spherical shell that will cause force will be mass located between the spheres of radius d and radius R1. As mass is distributed uniformly in the shell we can determine the density. Then we can find the force exerted.

Answer

Mass of the sphere =

M

Point P is at a distance of d from the center and there is a particle of mass m located there.

The mass of the spherical shell that will cause force will be mass located between the spheres of radius d and radius R1.

That is mass of volume

4/3Πd3 - 4/3ΠR13 = 4/3Π(d3 - R13)

Mass is distributed uniformly in the shell. Thus density of the shell is

M/[4/3p(R23 - R13)]

Thus

M' = M/[4/3Π(R23 - R13)] x 4/3Π(d3 - R13) = [(d3 - R13)M]/(R23 - R13)

Thus force exerted on m is =

G.m.M' / d2

or

F = [Gm(d3 - R13)M] / [d2(R23 - R13)]

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