If an earth-sized mass were in the shape of, say, a cone would its gravitational field be the same on all points of the surface as on earth or stronger at the thicker end where an inhabitant would be nearer more matter? Essentially, do non-spherical objects have centres that determine their gravitational field regardless as to the spread of the matter and are the fields equally strong in all directions?
My work gives me no challenge and I trouble myself with random questions in fields in which I have no education/clue.
2007-03-11 03:38:05 · 10 answers · asked by Andrew H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, an objects shape affects its gravitational pull.
The shape would affect the direction gravity pulls to relating to the surface. The different amounts of mass between the observer would slightly effect the amount of gravitational force.
The cone worlds gravity would be most intense high on the pointy side and around the rim of the wide end. An earth sized mass would be inherently inclined to being roughly spheroidal, the differences in gravity would shatter and reshape a cone world into a spheroid. Pretty much any object larger than 200 miles across is going to pull itself into that shape.
Your question is sort of like ones asked by NASA in trying to figure out how to get a probe to orbit an irregular shaped object like a comet or asteroid. A peanut shaped object would have two weak competing centers of gravity.
There's also a pair of satellites that map distortions in the earths gravitational field caused by differences in mass between the satellites and the gravitational center.
2007-03-11 04:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by corvis_9 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An object the size of the Earth will always be near Spherical due to the gravitational pull, if there was a big enough difference in shape the centre would pull in the farest reaches to become more spehrical.
However, if the structure was strong enough, the gravitational pull would be greater the further away you are from the epicentre so if it was cone shaped, the tip of the cone would have the greatest pull as the epicentre of the gravity will be nearer the base.
2007-03-11 03:41:49 · answer #2 · answered by agius1520 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If an earth sized mass were the shape of a truncated right-circular cone then the force exerted towards the center of mass of the cone due to gravitational attraction between the cone and a body somewhere on the surface of the cone would vary with that body's position.
Best of Luck - Mike.
2007-03-11 03:55:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never really thought about this but here's my input.
The earth is actually an oblique spheroid, meaning (at least, in my interpretation) that the earth isn't quite a sphere but it is kinda squeezed a bit from the axis. The gravitational pull on the equator is much less than the one on either poles because of this phenomenon. So I'm guessing, yeah shape does have an effect, though I don't know what will happen if the earth was conic shaped.
2007-03-11 03:53:24 · answer #4 · answered by Jack J 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the size and/or shape has no effect on the force of gravity. however, the size and shape of an object can effect the speed that the object falls due to atmospheric resistance. in a total vacuum, a feather of 1/4 gm will fall to earth at the same speed as an elephant would.
2007-03-11 03:54:50 · answer #5 · answered by jeffrey m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No difference to gravity with shape, only mass is a factor. Shape would make an impact on the speed at which something fell though, for example a parachute, but this is a force acting against gravity, cancelling it's effect out, gravitys pull would not actually be affected, just neutralised.
2007-03-11 03:43:36 · answer #6 · answered by CHARISMA 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No...Density is mass in line with unit volume. Water will take the shape of the vessel containing it, density would not replace.. gas has no structure, it fills the availabe area, without replace in density. Solids a stated to have a distinct structure and volume, besides the undeniable fact that, many solids are malleable and may be formed into diverse shapes, yet their density is fastened.
2016-12-01 20:08:33 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The density of an object affects it's gravity. Say if the cone was denser at the base end than the pointy end then the base would exert more gravity.
Lets say there are two planets one made from Iron and one made from Sponge (bear with me) and that they were both the same size. The Iron planet would exert the greatest gravititional pull as it is much denser than Sponge-world.
2007-03-11 03:47:30 · answer #8 · answered by paulbilsborough 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the further away you are from its CENTRE OF GRAVITY (e.g the Earth's would be the centre of the Earth) the less gravitational pull you feel.
2007-03-11 05:00:45 · answer #9 · answered by Mr Phil 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no difference to gravity with shape
2007-03-11 03:41:19 · answer #10 · answered by q6656303 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋