Considerations for gravity gradiometer application have established the need for predicting gradiometer response to mass distributions of particular interest. A digital computer program has been developed to simulate the rotating gravitational mass sensor, and to map the gradient contours of the gravitational field created by an arbitrary mass distribution. This analysis demonstrates the interaction of the gradiometer with seond and higher order gravitational gradients. The information about the mass distribution of an object was found to increase with the gradient order. Considered in this study is the ``cruciform'' mass sensor, now being developed by Hughes Research Laboratories. This rotating gradiometer is theoretically capable of measuring the second, sixth, tenth, etc., order gradient. We are presently engaged in laboratory experiments which combine with these computer results in the understanding of gradient‐sensor interaction. This paper gives a basic introduction to gravitational tensors, followed by a mathematical formulation of the gradiometer model. Computer results are included which demonstrate the gravitational gradient contours associated with some selected mass distributions.