Question

A hollow spherical shell of uniform density exerts what gravitational force on a point mass placed inside it?

Options

• A force directed towards the centre of the shell

• A force equal to Gm/r²

• Zero force

• A force directed away from the centre

Answer 1

Zero force

Explanation:

According to the special case for extended objects, the gravitational force due to a hollow, thin spherical shell on a point mass situated inside it is zero, regardless of where inside the shell the mass is placed.