Undergrad Gravity inside an exponential mass disk

[independentphysics]

I am trying to understand gravity inside an exponential axysymmetric mass disk with no thickness.

I know there are exact solutions for this case, such as the Mestel disk or the Kuzmin model, but I want to work out a simpler solution.

I am approaching the subject by linear superposition. For a mass m inside the disk at a distance r from the center, the gravitational force experienced by the mass m can be divided into the force from the mass M(r) inside the radius r (1), and the force from the mass outside r (2) (see attached image). Due to symmetry, I restrict the solution to a unique axis.

My understanding is that the total gravitational force experienced by the mass m pointing towards the center to the disk, is smaller than the one applying shell theorem (a spherically symmetric body affects external objects gravitationally as though all of its mass were concentrated at a point at its center). Also, it is smaller than the gravitational forced experienced only by the mass inside the radius r (case (1)).

What about gravitational field intensities? My understanding is that the gravitational field intensity at a distance r is bigger than just for case (1). Is it also bigger than for the case of all the mass of the disk concentrated at a point?

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Curve in your figure seems linear not exponential to me. Could you give us formula of $\rho(r)$ ?

 

[independentphysics]

Curve in your figure seems linear not exponential to me. Could you give us formula of $\rho(r)$ ?

It is certainly not. I dont care much about the form of surface density (linear or exponential) as long as it is not a solid disk (which is a completely different case of study).

 

[anuttarasammyak]

I am trying to understand gravity inside an exponential axysymmetric mass disk with no thickness.

I am not good at getting meaning of your "exponential asymmetric" and "surface density".

 

[independentphysics]

I am not good at getting meaning of your "exponential asymmetric" and "surface density".

Exponential decay of mass density from center.
Axisymmetric disk (not elliptical disk)
Surface density = mass density function, since I consider no thickness mass/distance^2

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Thanks. So I assume the setting as
\int_0^R \sigma(r) 2 \pi r dr = M
where
\sigma(r)=\sigma(0)e^{-\alpha r/R}
\alpha= -\log \frac{\sigma(R)}{\sigma(0)}
R is radius of thin disk, M is its mass.

 

[vanhees71]

Then just use the Green's function of the Laplace operator to solve the Newtonian field equation,
$$-\Delta \Phi=-4 \pi \gamma \rho=-4 \pi \gamma \sigma \delta(x_3),$$
leading to
$$\Phi=-\gamma \int_{K_r} \mathrm{d}^2 f' \frac{\gamma \sigma(\vec{r}')}{|\vec{r}-\vec{r}'|}.$$

 

[independentphysics]

Thanks. So I assume the setting as
\int_0^R \sigma(r) 2 \pi r dr = M
where
\sigma(r)=\sigma(0)e^{-\alpha r/R}
\alpha= -\log \frac{\sigma(R)}{\sigma(0)}
R is radius of thin disk, M is its mass.

Yes.

 

[independentphysics]

Then just use the Green's function of the Laplace operator to solve the Newtonian field equation,
$$-\Delta \Phi=-4 \pi \gamma \rho=-4 \pi \gamma \sigma \delta(x_3),$$
leading to
$$\Phi=-\gamma \int_{K_r} \mathrm{d}^2 f' \frac{\gamma \sigma(\vec{r}')}{|\vec{r}-\vec{r}'|}.$$

I am solving it through superoposition. Isnt there a more simple way to do it?

 

[A.T.]

I know there are exact solutions for this case, such as the Mestel disk or the Kuzmin model, but I want to work out a simpler solution.

Is the Kuzmin model that complicated?
https://galaxiesbook.org/chapters/I...utions.html#Razor-thin-disk:-The-Kuzmin-model

 

[independentphysics]

Is the Kuzmin model that complicated?
https://galaxiesbook.org/chapters/I...utions.html#Razor-thin-disk:-The-Kuzmin-model

The Kuzmin model is just one of many. If you want more precise approximations, there are many more for thickened disks. Im just looking for a more simple one than Kuzmin.

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Not only inside disk and outside ring of your suggestion, but decomposition to the inifinitesimal rings seem to work.

On X-Y plane there is a ring of radius r centered on Origin. Gravity potential at (x,0) is
d\phi(x:r,\sigma)=-Gr\ dr\ \sigma \int_0^{2\pi}[r^2 \sin^2\theta+(x-r\cos\theta)^2]^{-1/2}d\theta
where $\sigma$ is surface density of mass. x<r, x=r and x>r work. Gravity potential of disk which consists of the rings is geiven by superposition,i.e.,
\phi(x)=\int_{r=0}^{r=\infty} d\phi(x:r,\sigma(r))
I am afraid there is no simpler way as you expect so.

 

[independentphysics]

Not only inside disk and outside ring of your suggestion, but decomposition to the inifinitesimal rings seem to work.

On X-Y plane there is a ring of radius r centered on Origin. Gravity potential at (x,0) is
d\phi(x:r,\sigma)=-Gr\ dr\ \sigma \int_0^{2\pi}[r^2 \sin^2\theta+(x-r\cos\theta)^2]^{-1/2}d\theta
where $\sigma$ is surface density of mass. x<r, x=r and x>r work. Gravity potential of disk which consists of the rings is geiven by superposition,i.e.,
\phi(x)=\int_{r=0}^{r=\infty} d\phi(x:r,\sigma(r))
I am afraid there is no simpler way as you expect so.

If it is axisymmetric, why bother with angles?

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Disance to the observing point depends on the angle. After integration the result contanins no angle parameter because of symmetry.

 

[vanhees71]

The Kuzmin model is just one of many. If you want more precise approximations, there are many more for thickened disks. Im just looking for a more simple one than Kuzmin.

The Kuzmin model is very simple, because one simply makes an ansatz for the gravitational potential. It's just a solution of the Laplace equation with two "mirror charges", i.e., and a singularity along the $xy$ plane
$$\Phi(\vec{r})=\begin{cases} -\frac{G M}{|\vec{r}+a \vec{e}_z|} & \text{for} \quad z>0, \\ -\frac{GM}{|\vec{r}-\vec{a} \vec{e}_z|} & \text{for} \quad z<0. \end{cases}$$
It fufills indeed $\Delta \Phi=0$ for all $\vec{r}$ not on the $xy$ plane, along which it has a singularity, which is calculated in the quoted link. The source is
$$\rho(\vec{r})=\Delta \Phi(\vec{r})=\frac{M a}{2 \pi \sqrt{x_1^2+x_2^2+a^2}}\delta(z),$$
i.e., a surface-mass density,
[EDIT: Typo corrected]
$$\sigma(\vec{r})=\frac{M a}{2 \pi \sqrt{x_1^2+x_2^2+a^2}}.$$

 

[independentphysics]

The Kuzmin model is very simple, because one simply makes an ansatz for the gravitational potential. It's just a solution of the Laplace equation with two "mirror charges", i.e., and a singularity along the $xy$ plane
$$\Phi(\vec{r})=\begin{cases} -\frac{G M}{|\vec{r}+a \vec{e}_z|} & \text{for} \quad z>0, \\ -\frac{GM}{|\vec{r}-\vec{a} \vec{e}_z|} & \text{for} \quad z<0. \end{cases}$$
It fufills indeed $\Delta \Phi=0$ for all $\vec{r}$ not on the $xy$ plane, along which it has a singularity, which is calculated in the quoted link. The source is
$$\rho(\vec{r})=\Delta \Phi(\vec{r})=\frac{M a}{2 \pi |x_1^2+x_2^2+a^2}\delta(z),$$
i.e., a surface-mass density,
$$\sigma(\vec{r})=\frac{M a}{2 \pi |x_1^2+x_2^2+a^2}.$$

What is the gravitational field intensity in the Kuzmin model in terms of r?

 

[vanhees71]

It's just the gradient of the potential,
$$\vec{g}(\vec{r})=-\vec{\nabla} \Phi(\vec{r})=\begin{cases} -\frac{GM}{|\vec{r}+a \vec{e}_z|^3} (\vec{r}+a \vec{z}) &\text{for} \quad z>0, \\
-\frac{GM}{|\vec{r}-a \vec{e}_z|^3} (\vec{r}-a \vec{z}) & \text{for} \quad z<0.\end{cases}$$