Category Archives: Gravitation

Finding the gravitational field inside a cavity in a solid sphere

00:39 Hint given | 01:26 Solution starts | 05:29 Answer
Question G1L2: Concepts used in solution
Shell theorem | Superposition principle | Vectors
Shell theorem at Hyperphysics and Wikipedia
Problem statement
A sphere of radius R and uniform density p has within it a spherical cavity of radius r whose center is as shown in the figure. Find the magnitude and direction of the gravitational field at a point r within the cavity.
What is the direction of the initial motion of a point mass placed somewhere inside the cavity?