What is the approximate pressure at the center of a cool Earth with no gravity?

In summary, the basic barometric formula for calculating atmospheric pressure is (Ph: pressure at height h) = (Pzero: pressure at height zero) x exp(-mgh/kT), where the height h unit is meters, P unit is pascals, m is the mass of an average "air" molecule, g is the acceleration of gravity, k is the Boltzmann constant, and T is the temperature in kelvins. The acceleration of gravity g decreases with altitude but is treated as constant for approximation. A discussion about the pressure at the center of a cool Earth without heat at the core leads to the question of whether the pressure would be small with g=0 at the center. The argument revolves around the contribution
  • #1
SteveUSA
5
0
The basic barometric formula for calculating atmospheric pressure is (Ph: pressure at height h) = (Pzero: pressure at height zero) x exp(-mgh/kT), where the height h unit is meters, P unit is pascals, m is the mass of an average "air" molecule, g is the acceleration of gravity, k is the Boltzmann constant, and T is the temperature in kelvins. Acceleration of gravity g drops off with altitude, but not by much, so treating it as constant is a good approximation.

I was arguing with a friend about the atmospheric pressure at the center of a cool Earth (no heat at the core) if a hole were drilled through it along the axis of rotation and open so air in the tube is connected to air above the surface. The acceleration of gravity decreases to zero at the center, since only the sphere below a random point (located between surface and center) contributes to the gravitational force. With g = 0 at the center, the pressure would be small. The friend says that's nonsense, that the pressure only a couple of hundred kilometers down would be super high and that would keep the pressure at the center really high. Neither of us has the mathematical acumen necessary to get beyond hand-waving.

Has anyone seen, or is brilliant enough to derive, a function that would give us an idea of what the approximate pressure would be at the center?
 
Physics news on Phys.org

What is air pressure calculation?

Air pressure calculation is the process of determining the force exerted by the weight of air molecules in a specific area or volume.

Why is air pressure calculation important?

Air pressure calculation is important because it helps us understand the behavior of gases and their effects on weather patterns, air travel, and other aspects of our daily lives.

How is air pressure calculated?

Air pressure is typically calculated by measuring the weight of a column of air above a certain area and dividing it by the area's surface. This is known as the barometric formula.

What units are used to measure air pressure?

The most commonly used unit for air pressure is the pascal (Pa), which is equivalent to one newton per square meter. Other units include pounds per square inch (psi) and millibars (mbar).

What factors affect air pressure?

Air pressure can be affected by temperature, altitude, and the amount of water vapor in the air. Changes in these factors can cause air pressure to increase or decrease.

Similar threads

Replies
27
Views
2K
Replies
50
Views
3K
  • Classical Physics
Replies
10
Views
659
Replies
13
Views
20K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Mechanics
2
Replies
49
Views
6K
Replies
17
Views
10K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
538
Replies
6
Views
1K
Back
Top