Which plot represents gravitational field magnitude versus distance r due to a thin spherical shell of radius R (distance measured from the shell’s centre)?
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Question

Which plot represents gravitational field magnitude versus distance r due to a thin spherical shell of radius R (distance measured from the shell’s centre)?

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Step 1: By Newton’s shell theorem, E=0 for r<R. Step 2: Immediately outside the shell E=GM/r², so it jumps to GM/R² at R and then decreases as 1/r². Thus Image 2 is correct. Final answer: B — Image 2.