What is the direction of the gravitational intensity at the centre of the base of a uniform hemisphe

Question

What is the direction of the gravitational intensity at the centre of the base of a uniform hemispherical shell?

Professor PC Thomas Classes · Answer

Gravitational force is always attractive. At the centre of the base of a hemispherical shell, the forces from the symmetric elements of the shell have horizontal components that cancel out, but the vertical components all point towards the dome of the hemisphere. Thus, the net gravitational intensity is directed towards the shell.