Randall D. Knight — Newton's Theory of Gravity: Problem 71

FIGURE CP13.71 shows a particle of mass \( m \) at distance \( x \) from the center of a very thin cylinder of mass \( M \) and length \( L \). The particle is outside the cylinder, so \( x > L/2 \). a. Calculate the gravitational potential energy of these two masses. b. Use what you know about the relationship between force and potential energy to find the magnitude of the gravitational force on \( m \) when it is at position \( x \).