The property of spheres that gravity acts on the shape as one component?

In summary, the property being described is symmetry, which is the characteristic of a sphere where gravity pulls equally on all aspects of the sphere's mass. This is in contrast to other shapes, such as a long prism, where gravity can pull on different parts of the object at different strengths. The term for this property is symmetry, and it means that an object is balanced in all directions.
  • #1
Sirloin
10
0
I'm wondering if there's a term for the property of spheres that makes gravity pull equally on all aspects of the sphere's mass.

The wording for what I'm asking is tricky, so I'll give an example of a shape that wouldn't have this property, a long prism. If you drop a long prism on an angle (like this: / ), then the side of the prism closest to the ground will hit the ground first, bounce up if the material has good elastic potential, then the side further from the ground will continue toward the ground. The prism has two components of gravity pulling on it, one for each end. And a sphere has gravity pulling on it as just a whole, essentially.

Is there a term for this property? Or at least a not-so-wordy way of describing it?
 
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  • #2
Symmetry
 
  • #3
Oh, yeah. Thanks!
 

Related to The property of spheres that gravity acts on the shape as one component?

1. How does gravity affect the shape of a sphere?

Gravity acts on all objects, including spheres. It pulls the object towards the center, causing it to become more compressed and take on a rounder shape. This is why the Earth and other planets are spherical in shape.

2. Is gravity the only force that affects the shape of a sphere?

No, there are other forces at play such as the centrifugal force from the rotation of the sphere and the pressure from the internal structure of the sphere. However, gravity is often the dominant force when it comes to shaping spheres.

3. Can gravity act on the shape of a hollow sphere?

Yes, gravity acts on the entire mass of the sphere, including the outer surface and the empty space inside. This results in a uniform distribution of gravitational force on the surface, causing it to maintain a spherical shape.

4. How does the strength of gravity affect the shape of a sphere?

The strength of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the sphere. This means that a larger and more massive sphere will experience a stronger gravitational pull, causing it to be more compressed and have a rounder shape.

5. Can the shape of a sphere change due to gravity?

While gravity can cause a sphere to become more compressed and rounder, it cannot drastically change its shape. However, factors such as the rotation speed, mass, and composition of the sphere can influence its shape in relation to the force of gravity acting upon it.

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