- #1
Excalibur1152
- 11
- 0
When calculating the gravitational field from the earth, why can we make the assumption that all of the mass of the Earth is 'averaged' at the the geometrical center?
If we imagine the Earth as a bunch of pieces, and then calculate the sum of forces from each of these pieces, would it not be different from imagining the Earth as a single piece at the center with all of its mass?
What I mean is that a 'piece' of Earth on the other side of the Earth is pulling one me with a much much weaker force than a piece of Earth that is right under my feet. The transition from the strength of the gravity from the Earth that is close to me to the Earth that is farther away is not linear, so why can we average the distances?
If we imagine the Earth as a bunch of pieces, and then calculate the sum of forces from each of these pieces, would it not be different from imagining the Earth as a single piece at the center with all of its mass?
What I mean is that a 'piece' of Earth on the other side of the Earth is pulling one me with a much much weaker force than a piece of Earth that is right under my feet. The transition from the strength of the gravity from the Earth that is close to me to the Earth that is farther away is not linear, so why can we average the distances?