Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Two concentric spherical shells have masses M1, M2 and radii R1, R2 (R1 < R2). What is the force exerted by this system on a particle of mass m1 if it is placed at a distance (R1+ R2)/2 from the centre?
Advertisements
Solution
Consider that mass m is at a distance \[\frac{R_1 + R_2}{2}\] as shown in the figure.

The gravitational force of m due to the shell of M2 is zero, because the mass is inside the shell.
∴ Gravitational force due to the shell of mass M2 = \[\frac{G M_1 m}{\left( \frac{R_1 + R_2}{2} \right)^2} = \frac{4G M_1 m}{\left( R_1 + R_2 \right)^2}\]
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
What happens to the force between two objects, if the distance between the objects is doubled and tripled?
Let V and E represent the gravitational potential and field at a distance r from the centre of a uniform solid sphere. Consider the two statements:
(A) the plot of V against r is discontinuous.
(B) The plot of E against r is discontinuous.
A body is suspended from a spring balance kept in a satellite. The reading of the balance is W1 when the satellite goes in an orbit of radius R and is W2 when it goes in an orbit of radius 2 −R.
Write an expression for the gravitational force of attraction between two bodies of masses m1 and m2 separated by a distance r.
A ball is thrown vertically upwards. It goes to a height 20 m and then returns to the ground. Taking acceleration due to gravity g to be 10 ms-2 , find :
the total time of journey of the ball .
Multiple Choice Question. Select the correct option.
The mass of earth is 6 × 1024 kg and radius of earth is 6.4 × 106 m. The magnitude of force between the mass of 1 kg and the earth is:
All objects in the universe attract each other along the line joining their________.
A ball is thrown up with a speed of 4.9 ms-1.
Calculate the time it takes to reach this height.
You can change the direction in which an object is moving by___________.
An apple falls towards the earth due to its gravitational force. The apple also attracts the earth with the same force. Why do we not see the earth rising towards the apple? Explain.
What do you mean by a gravitational constant?
Law of gravitation gives the gravitational force between
Particles of masses 2M, m and M are respectively at points A, B and C with AB = ½ (BC). m is much-much smaller than M and at time t = 0, they are all at rest (Figure). At subsequent times before any collision takes place ______.

How is the gravitational force between two point masses affected when they are dipped in water keeping the separation between them the same?
We can shield a charge from electric fields by putting it inside a hollow conductor. Can we shield a body from the gravitational influence of nearby matter by putting it inside a hollow sphere or by some other means?
Give scientific reasons for the following:
Newton's gravitational law is the universal law of gravitation.
Newton's universal law of gravitation applies to ______.
The acceleration of the Moon towards the Earth is approximately:
