Gravitational Potential Problem ( one simple yes/no question)

[rockstar101]

Homework Statement

When finding the gravitational potential of a thick walled hollow cylinder from the

point P, located along the X-axis,

can I find the Gravitational potential of a solid cylinder and then subtract the
gravitational potential of a smaller (inner empty) cylinder?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

This is my attempt to answer a much complicated problem.
I just need to make sure that I can subtract the two gravitational potential
to find the gp of hollow thick cylinder.

Any hint or help would be really appreciated thanks!

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi rockstar101! Welcome to PF!

can I find the Gravitational potential of a solid cylinder and then subtract the
gravitational potential of a smaller (inner empty) cylinder?
…
I just need to make sure that I can subtract the two gravitational potential
to find the gp of hollow thick cylinder.

Yes … that's exactly the way to do it.

 

[rockstar101]

is the gravitational potential measuring from a point on Z axis same as the gp measured on a point on X axis?

 

[tiny-tim]

(what happened to "one simple yes/no question"? )

If the Y-axis is the axis of the cylinder, yes.