Question

Six particles each of mass $m$ are placed at the corners of a regular hexagon of edge length $a$. If a point mass $m_0$ is placed at the centre of the hexagon, then the net gravitational force on the point mass $m_0$ is

• A. $\frac{6G{m}^2}{a^2}$
• B. $\frac{6Gm{m}_0}{a^2}$
• C. zero
• D. none of these

Answer 1

The correct option is C zero

The force exerted by each particle placed on the vertices, over the particle at the centre are equal in magnitude and cancel each other vectorially. Thus the resultant force on it is equal to zero.