- #1
Mindscrape
- 1,861
- 1
Homework Statement
A gaseous planet, with radius R, has a radially dependent density function
[tex]\rho (r') = \rho_0 [\frac{r'}{R}]^2[/tex]
where r' is the distance from the center planet. Find the magnitude of force for a mass m inside and outside of the planet.
Homework Equations
[tex] F = -\frac{GmM}{r^2} [/tex]
[tex] F = -G m \int_V \frac{\rho(r') \hat{e_r}}{r^2}dv'[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm pretty sure I did it right, but would like some confirmation. The mass inside the planet, taking a sample shell, would be
[tex] M = \int_0^r 4\pi r'^2 dr' \rho(r')[/tex]
which would give
[tex] M = \int_0^r 4\pi r'^2 dr' \rho_0 (\frac{r'}{R})^2[/tex]
and evaluates to
[tex] M = \frac{4}{5} \pi r^5 \frac{\rho_0}{R^2}[/tex]
such that the force inside will be
[tex] F = \frac{-Gm r^3}{r^2}\rho_0 \hat{e_r}[/tex]
Outside
the same idea applies
[tex] M = \int_0^R 4 \pi r'^2 dr' \rho(r')[/tex]
and gives
[tex] M = \frac{4}{5} \pi R^5 \frac{\rho_0}{R^2}[/tex]
so that the force is
[tex] F = \frac{-GmR^2}{r^2}\rho_0 \hat{e_r}[/tex]
Both answers, more or less, make sense. Inside, as you move further away that the force will increase. Outside, the force will decrease as you move further away.
Last edited: