# Newton's "Shell theorem" in higher dimensions

In Newtons's shell theorem, the net gravitational force is zero inside a hollow sphere, if the gravitational force is proporional to $1/r^2$.

In 2D, the net force is zero inside if the force is proportional to $1/r$.

Is there a general result in $d$ spatial dimensions showing that net force is zero inside if the force is proportional to $1/r^{d-1}$?

• Getting the logic right is nontrivial. The only reason for taking the force to vary like $1/r^{d-1}$ is because you want Gauss's law to hold. Depending on what you think of as a starting set of assumptions, this doesn't even need to be true. If it is true, it can be considered either trivial or nontrivial.
– user4552
May 22 '18 at 19:11
Yes; this follows from Gauss's law for gravity. Over a closed surface enclosing a mass $M$ we have $\int \vec{g}\cdot d\vec{S}\propto -GM$, where the required proportionality constant is the surface of a unit sphere. If the chosen surface is a sphere containing a spherically symmetric density, such as a uniform density or a point mass, the result follows.