Question

The value of gravitational potential outside a uniform thin spherical shell is the same everywhere.

(a) True

(b) False

I had been asked this question during a job interview.

My doubt stems from Gravitational Potential Energy in portion Gravitation of Physics – Class 11

Answer 1

Right choice is (b) False

For explanation I would say: The gravitational potential outside a thin uniform spherical shell behaves similar to the potential due to a point source form the centre of the spherical shell.The gravitational potential outside a spherical shell is inversely proportional to the distance of the point outside from the centre of the sphere. Hence, it is not the same everywhere.