Gravitation force of a disk with a hole

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on deriving the gravitational force equation for a disk with a hole, questioning whether the existing formula can be adapted for a disk with a hollow interior. The user initially proposes that the radius change and area adjustments would be sufficient to modify the gravitational force equation. However, it is clarified that the disk can be modeled as a combination of a positive mass disk and a negative mass disk, leading to a new force equation. Concerns are raised about the validity of the square root in the original formula, particularly at x=0 and when x exceeds the disk's radius. Ultimately, the force can be expressed as the difference between the gravitational forces of the actual mass and the negative mass.
toony12362
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


[/B]Hello, I have derived the equation for the gravitational force for a disk to be
2Ggm/a^2(1-x/sqrt(a^2 - x^2) when an object is added on top of the system. My question is would the force still be somewhat similar if the disk now had a small hollow of radius c and from the center to the end of the disk the distance is d?

The Attempt at a Solution


Im assuming it will be and that the only difference I would make is that my radius is now (d-c) or my new area would now be da = 2 * pi * (d^2 - c^2) but I am not sure if that logic makes sense.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A sketch or at least a description of the variables would help.
The expression has mismatching brackets.

A disk with an empty interior can be described as sum of a larger disk with positive mass and a smaller disk with negative mass.
 
Sorry! Here is a sketch. I am assumning if we have a regular disk then the gravitational force can be modeled by the force equation in the diagram!
Tt7n5MV.png


Now if we have a disk with an empty interior of radius b like this figure
MuqfXnu.png


Would the only thing that change in my equation would now be the radius? That the new radius would be (a -b) or would it be my area such that A = pi*b^2 - pi * a^2 or A=pi * (b-a)^2
 
toony12362 said:
2Ggm/a^2(1-x/sqrt(a^2 - x^2)
From your second post, I gather that is:
##\frac{2Ggm}{a^2}\left(1-\frac x{\sqrt{a^2 - x^2}}\right)##
But that cannot be right. When x=0 the force should be 0.
 
@haruspex: The force is discontinuous at x=0 for an ideal disk, the formula is for x>0.
toony12362 said:
Would the only thing that change in my equation would now be the radius?
No, but you can model the force as sum of two disks, one with a positive and one with a negative mass.

The square root in your formula cannot be correct - it becomes undefined for x>a.
 
  • Like
Likes haruspex
mfb said:
@haruspex: The force is discontinuous at x=0 for an ideal disk, the formula is for x>0.No, but you can model the force as sum of two disks, one with a positive and one with a negative mass.

The square root in your formula cannot be correct - it becomes undefined for x>a.
Does this mean the force is just F= F_actual_mass_with_radius_b - F_negative_mass_with_radius_a?
 
Back
Top