Gravitational Binding Energy of a Torus

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SUMMARY

The gravitational binding energy of a toroidal planet cannot be accurately defined using traditional gravitational binding energy equations, as such a structure cannot be maintained solely by gravitational forces. The derived equation U = -4 G π^5 R^2 r^4 ρ^2 simplifies to U = -G M^2 π when substituting for density (ρ), but this oversimplification neglects the necessity of strong internal structures to maintain a toroidal shape. In reality, a toroidal planet would collapse into a sphere due to gravitational forces, and any stable non-spherical shape would require additional forces, such as electromagnetic binding, to exist.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational binding energy concepts
  • Familiarity with general relativity principles
  • Knowledge of toroidal geometry and physics
  • Basic comprehension of astrophysical structures
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of general relativity on non-spherical celestial bodies
  • Explore the concept of gravitational binding energy in various shapes beyond spheres
  • Study Larry Niven's "Ringworld" for insights on fictional structures and their physics
  • Investigate the role of electromagnetic forces in maintaining non-gravitationally bound structures
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, physicists, and science fiction writers interested in the stability of celestial structures and the interplay of gravitational and electromagnetic forces in astrophysics.

Tom MS
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I was looking at the wikipedia page for the gravitational binding energy of a sphere, but let's say that there was a toroidal planet. What would its gravitational binding energy be?
I have attempted the solution similar to what they did on wikipedia and obtained:
U = -4 G \pi^5 R^2 r^4 \rho^2https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fPHuQ6I0NONuFyo7tz0OBkPVGWVW6kVChq_TjWU05B-jQRFqvMmnVLfPN7Q9OMCPe3qTMw=s95
R and r are shown in the diagram to be the total radius of the torus and the radius of the tube of the torus respectively.

I believe with a substitution for \rho as density, this simplifies to:
U = -G M^2 \pi

But this seems to simple. Any ideas?
 
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A torus can't form or be maintained via gravitational binding. If that were the only "force" (spacetime curvature, to be pedantic) it would have to collapse into a sphere. Even if it were rotating very fast, you wouldn't get a toroidal planet - instead, an oblate spheroid, i.e. disk.

Strong internal structure of some sort would be required to hold such a shape. Check out Larry Niven's science fiction "Ringworld" for a good example. In such case the tension would produce negative gravity (according to GR); in an extreme case it would actually repel instead of attracting! In a more normal case you could have a small amount of matter, like an asteroid, in any shape imaginable - even a statue of Elvis. But such a small object is maintained by electromagnetic (chemical) binding; gravity would be negligible.

Bottom line, it can't be analyzed as simply gravitational binding energy. By the way the same would be true for any non-sphere shape: cylinder, sheet, etc.
 
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