Ball of gas experiences rapid increase in pressure....

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SUMMARY

A self-gravitating ball of gas experiences a rapid increase in pressure, denoted as P', leading to an expansion that can be analyzed using the equation for force derived from pressure and surface area. The discussion focuses on understanding why the pressure at an outer shell, P(r + δr), is subtracted from the pressure at radius r, P(r), when calculating the outward force on the shell. This subtraction is essential as it accounts for the inward force acting on the shell due to the surrounding gas pressure, which is critical for accurately estimating the time scale of the star's expansion.

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Poirot
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Homework Statement


A self-gravitating ball of gas suddenly experiences a rapid increase in its pressure to a new value P'. Taking average density of the star to be ρ and radius R, and ignoring gravity altogether, estimate the time scale of expansion of the star.

Homework Equations


Force= Pressure/Surface area= mass x Acceleration

The Attempt at a Solution


Considering an outer shell of thickness δr and radius r:
Outward force on shell = (P(r) - P(r + δr)) 4πr2
My question is really why is the P(r + δr) the minus of it?

I'm comfortable doing the rest of the question by just using equation mass of shell x acceleration and equating them and using dimensional analysis on that .
But I'm unsure why it's a minus there, I'm fairly certain that's right after speaking classmates but I don't understand why.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Poirot said:
My question is really why is the P(r + δr) the minus of it?
Because it works inwards ! Make a little sketch for a thin shell at r .
 

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