Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]PhysicsGravitation
A solid sphere of mass m and radius r is positioned inside a hollow thin spherical shell of mass M and radius R . A particle of mass m' is located on the line connecting the two centres at a distance x from the point of contact of the sphere and the shell. Determine the magnitude of the resultant gravitational force on this particle due to the sphere and the shell, given that x > 2R .
Options
- AGMm' (x - R)^2 + Gmm' (x - r)^2
- BGMm' (x - R)^2
- CGMm' (x - r)^2 + Gmm' (x - R)^2
- DG(M+m)m' x^2
Correct answer
A. GMm' (x - R)^2 + Gmm' (x - r)^2
Step-by-step solution
Let the point of contact of the solid sphere and the hollow shell be the origin. The line connecting their centres is taken as the coordinate axis. The centre of the hollow spherical shell of mass M and radius R is at a distance R from the origin. The centre of the solid sphere of mass m and radius r is at a distance r from the origin. The particle of mass m' is located at a distance x from the origin. Since x > 2R , the particle lies completely outside both the hollow shell and the solid sphere. For a point outsid