Abstract:
Integral expressions are derived for the vertical component of gravitational attraction arising from vertical circular cylinders and horizontal circular disks with radial variation of density. The expressions contain a single elliptic integral of either the first or second kind and are evaluated easily by numerical integration. Various closed-form solutions are obtained for special cases. For constant density, the expressions reduce to well-known solutions as well as approximations that are based on the solid angle and line element, thus providing a unified theme for the derivations of those solutions and approximations. Numerical implementation is discussed in terms of practical application.
