I have a dumb question about gravitational fields

1. Nov 18, 2014

Dimwitted

Is a one-dimensional gravitational field possible? I'm not sure if I'm using the correct terminology, what I mean is instead of pulling things into its center of gravity it pulls things in the same linear direction until it ejects it out.

Last edited by a moderator: Nov 18, 2014
2. Nov 18, 2014

e.bar.goum

Perhaps I'm not understanding the question you're asking, but the gravitational force does act one dimensionally!

Newtons law of gravity gives us:

$F = \frac{G M1 M2}{r^2}$

It is only dependent on the distance the two bodies are from each other $r$, not their angles relative to each other (which would introduce a $\phi$ and $\theta$ dependence).

Last edited: Nov 18, 2014
3. Nov 18, 2014

Nabeshin

This is one way to look at it.

Another way is from the field equation point of view of gravity, a la Gauss' law
$$\vec{\nabla} \cdot \vec{G} = - 4 \pi \rho$$

In one dimension, from this equation a point source simply generates a constant gravitational field (does not vary with distance from the point mass).