NEET Physics (general) MCQ Question
Which of the following statements about gravitational force and mass distribution is correct?
Gravitational force between an extended object and a point mass must be calculated by vectorially adding forces from all point masses in the extended object.
The gravitational force exerted by a spherical shell of mass on a point inside it is equal to the gravitational force exerted by the entire shell.
The gravitational force is always directed towards the center of the extended object, regardless of the position of the point mass.
Doubling the mass at one vertex of a triangle does not affect the total gravitational force at the centroid from the other vertices.
Correct Answer
Detailed Explanation
Statement A is correct as it describes the necessity of vector addition for forces from each point mass in an extended object. Statement B is incorrect because the force inside a shell is zero, while statement C is misleading as it suggests uniformity in direction that may not apply. Statement D is false since changing the mass affects the force experienced at the centroid.
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