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20. A particle might be placed 1. inside a uniform spherical shell of mass M, bu

ID: 1966495 • Letter: 2

Question

20. A particle might be placed
1. inside a uniform spherical shell of mass M, but not at the center
2. inside a uniform spherical shell of mass M, at the center
3. outside a uniform spherical shell of mass M, a distance r from the center
4. outside a uniform solid sphere of mass M, a distance 2r from the center
Rank these situations according to the magnitude of the gravitational force on the particle, least to greatest.
A) All tie
B) 1, 2, 3, 4
C) 1 and 2 tie, then 3 and 4 tie
D) 1 and 2 tie, then 3, then 4
E) 1 and 2 tie, then 4, then 3

Explanation / Answer

Inside a uniform spherical shell the gravitational force is zero irrespective of the location of the particle thus situations (1) and (2) are tie if the particle is outside the spherical shell then the gravitational force is given by                                                                            F=GMm/d2 here d is the distance of the particle from the center of the spherical shell. Since force is inversly preportional to square of the distance Force decreses as the distance increases. Thus situation (4) has least force compared to situation (3) Thus the correct choice is E) 1 and 2 tie, then 4, then 3
here d is the distance of the particle from the center of the spherical shell. Since force is inversly preportional to square of the distance Force decreses as the distance increases. Thus situation (4) has least force compared to situation (3) Thus the correct choice is E) 1 and 2 tie, then 4, then 3