Work done in a Gravitational Feild of a Hemisphere

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
1 reply · 2K views
Himanshu
Messages
67
Reaction score
0
The problem concerns with the work done by the Gravitational Feild force exerted on a mass 'm' kept on the center of the base of a hemisphere of mass "M" radius "R".

The way I did it was, first I found the Center of Mass of the hemisphere which is 3R/8. Next I used the concept => Work done= -Potential Energy.

PE=-8GMm/3R

So Work done would be= 8GMm/3R

Work done by Gravitational Feild force is -8GMm/3R

But the book says the answer is -3GMm/2R

Where am I wrong . Please Help!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your first formula only applies to a full sphere.
Your method is wrong.