Gravity: Attraction of Two Particles vs. Two Objects

[imi]

Can the theory of gravity be simplified to the attraction of two particles (always of equal mass) rather than the attraction of two massive objects?

If so would the relationship of gravitational attraction have to be calculated according to the relative position of all particles in an object in order to be completely accurate?

 

[Eyesaw]

Seems that way if gravitational attraction is a function of how much mass is present. That's why the center of gravity is different for differently shaped objects.

 

[Integral]

In general the computation of gravitation attraction between 2 arbitrary bodies takes the form of an integral, where each body is subdivided into infinitesimal mass elements. This approach can correctly compute the attraction between bodies which do not have uniform mass distributions.

 

[Nenad]

gravity is a basic attraction between two particles. It is the weakes fore of the 4 elementary forces in the universe; gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear and stong nuclear. It is actually millions of times weaker than the other three, but since matter is made up od soo many billions and billions of particles, the gravitational forces add up and dominate in the large scale world.

 

[sol2]

gravity is a basic attraction between two particles. It is the weakes fore of the 4 elementary forces in the universe; gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear and stong nuclear. It is actually millions of times weaker than the other three, but since matter is made up od soo many billions and billions of particles, the gravitational forces add up and dominate in the large scale world.

Is there a way to measure the "continuity" of the strength and weakness of gravity topologically?

I have placed GRACE here in posts for consideration to reveal the topological features of earth

http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/gallery/gravity/03_07_GRACE2.jpg
These detailed geophysical features are being detected by GRACE with no surface gravity measurements. (July 21, 2003)

http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/gallery/animations/world_gravity/

Due to an uneven distribution of mass inside the Earth, the Earth's gravity field is not uniform - that is, it has "lumps". By far the largest is a flattening at the poles, called the Earth's oblateness, but in this model we've greatly exaggerated the scale so that many smaller features can be seen. The GRACE Mission will map out the precise location and size of these lumps, enabling greater understanding of the structure of the Earth. Additionally, GRACE will monitor the mass and location of water as it moves around on the surface of the Earth, cycling between the land, oceans, and polar ice caps.

I have also place information in terms of gravity Probe B in other posts. Sci physics strings as well