Equation for Solid Planet Structure

[Helios]

I'm looking for an radial equation to find the pressure or density of the interior of a moon or rock planet. It would involve Young's modulus or Poisson's ratio or something like. Any help?

[Chris Hillman]

Well, you should probably start with something more basic: the equation of hydrostatic equilibrium. This is relevant to models in which you model a planet or star as a ball of fluid, but also to models in which you model it as an (isotropic, inhomogeneous) elastic medium. I take it you are looking for a Newtonian model? There are many books on Newtonian models of stellar structure, also many books on geophysics.

[Helios]

There are books on geophysics? Really? Your reply is kind of a downer. I've solved hydrostatic eq'ns for spheres and I'm looking for a next thing to do.

[Obs]

Hi Helios!

Maybe this one is what you are looking for: http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1980LPSC...11.1999A&data_type=PDF_H IGH&type=PRINTER&filetype=.pdf
I'm not so good at math and physics, so I don't really understand everything in the text. If you can use the formulas in the text to find density (and temperature), please tell me how!

[Chris Hillman]

Hi, Helios,

There are books on geophysics? Really? Your reply is kind of a downer. I've solved hydrostatic eq'ns for spheres and I'm looking for a next thing to do.

Sorry if I underestimated your previous experience. Should I infer from your handle that you are particularly interested in stellar interiors? Would adding rotation whet your appetite? If so, if you know about McLaurin spheroids, I suppose the obvious next question is: have you studied Chandrasekhar, Selected Papers, esp. Vols 1, 4? That should keep you happy for a while!

[Helios]

Hi Chris. I have Chandra's book "Stellar Interiors" and that's it. Out of it I'm trying to understand his explanation of composite polytropes. I don't get it and there are no examples.
Anyway I'm looking for a solid planet equation that might resemble Emden's eq'n.