Does 'extended' mean 'larger' in this case?

[Saladsamurai]

For the Principle of Superposition wrt Gravitational forces...

In my text it says that for particles $$\vec{F_{1,net}}=\sum_{i=2}^n\vec{F_{1,i}}$$
and for real or "extended" objects $$\vec{F_1}=\int d\vec{F}$$

Does extended just mean larger?

Casey

 

[HallsofIvy]

It means more than just a single point. The sum is over a group of "point" particles. The integral is over some interval. Basically, that is what "extended" means here: a whole interval or area or volume, no matter how small, rather than individual points.

 

[Saladsamurai]

It means more than just a single point. The sum is over a group of "point" particles. The integral is over some interval. Basically, that is what "extended" means here: a whole interval or area or volume, no matter how small, rather than individual points.

Gotcha. Thanks. I just wanted to make sure it did not mean "distant".