- #1
Vitani11
- 275
- 3
Homework Statement
I know that in general it is when the gravitational field is not constant, so that part is fine. To find the gravitational force between a sphere with mass M and a radius R and a thin rod of length L and mass m which has one end a distance x away from the center of the sphere, you need to integrate.
Homework Equations
Unnecessary
The Attempt at a Solution
My issue is not the integration, it's just the concept. Is it because each piece of mass (dm) at a length dl on the rod experiences a difference magnitude of gravitational force since each piece of mass is at different locations (and a certain distance away from the spheres center) along the rod? Also, why can you treat the sphere as a point charge in this case? I know it is because it is a sphere, but I don't understand how being a sphere allows it to be treated as a point charge.