(1) "If the particle be outside of the shell, it will be attracted as
if the whole mass of the shell were concentrated at its centre."
(2) "If it be inside the shell, the opposite attractions in every
direction will neutralise each other, no matter whereabouts in the
interior the particles may be, and the resultant attraction of the
shell will therefore be zero."
To the first theorem no objection can be made: The particle on the
outside of the shell will undoubtedly be attracted by every particle in
the shell, with the same force as if the attractive power of all the
particles composing it were concentrated in the centre. Not so with
the second theorem: for it can be objected that it altogether ignores
the Law of Attraction laid down by Sir Isaac Newton, where it asserts
that the resultant attraction of the shell for the particle will be
zero, when it is placed anywhere on the inside. In fact the theorem
supposes a case impossible for the Harton Colliery experiments, in
order to demonstrate their accuracy; for it makes use of the bob of
the pendulum--a particle of matter--as if it were transferable to any
part of the interior of the earth instead of being confined within
the bounds of its swing. That the attraction of the shell--1260 feet
thick all round the earth--on the pendulum bob inside of it continues
in all its force, and is only divided into two opposing parts, is made
plain by Fig. 1. Supposing O to represent the bob of the pendulum at
the bottom of the mine, and the space between the two circles the
shell of the earth. Then the line B C will show where the attraction
of the shell for the bob is divided into two parts acting in opposite
directions. Supposing these two parts to be separated from each other,
only far enough to admit the bob--a particle to all intents and
purposes--between them; the part B A C will attract the bob as if its
whole attractive force were collected at its centre of gravity, and
the part B D C as if the whole of its attractive force were collected,
not at the centre B of the shell, but at its centre of gravity, a
very little distance from B in the direction towards D. This is an
incontrovertible fact, because it is in strict accordance with Newton's
Law of Attraction, which is: _Every particle of matter in the universe
attracts every other particle with a force directly as their masses,
and inversely as the square of the distance which separates them._
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account