Hydrostatic equlibrium and Centre of pressure

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of hydrostatic equilibrium in the context of a uniform star, specifically focusing on finding the center pressure. The original poster presents their working assumptions and calculations based on the uniform density of the star.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the center pressure using the hydrostatic equilibrium equation and questions whether their assumptions about uniform density are appropriate. Some participants question the treatment of the density term in the equations presented.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's calculations, providing corrections and expressing their views on the validity of the equations. There is a focus on clarifying the treatment of the density term and its implications for the calculations.

Contextual Notes

The original poster assumes the pressure at the surface of the star is zero, which may be a point of contention. The discussion also reflects uncertainty regarding the implications of uniform density in the context of the problem.

Taylor_1989
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Homework Statement


A uniform star has a mass of M and radius of R,use the hydrostatic equilibrium equation to find its centre pressure. (note: not the minimum
centre pressure)

Homework Equations


$$\frac{dp}{dr}=-\frac{Gm\left(r\right)\rho \left(r\right)}{r^2}[1]$$

The Attempt at a Solution


Have I followed the right assumptions in my working? The reason I followed this is because it states uniform star.

I assume density of the star dose not change w/r to radius

$$M(r)=4/3 \pi r^3<\rho> [2]$$

subbing [2] into [1]

$$\frac{dp}{dr}=\frac{-G4\pi \:r^3<\rho >\:}{3r^2}=\frac{-G4\pi \:r<\rho \:>\:}{3}[3]$$

$$\int _{P_c}^0\:dp=\int _0^{R_s}\:\frac{-G4\pi \:r<\rho \:>\:}{3}[4]$$

$$P_c=\:\frac{-G2\pi \:R_s^2<\rho \:>\:}{3}[5]$$

So my ##<\rho>## is the average density of the star and as the pressure at the centre of the star is much greater than the surface I have assumed the pressure at the surface is 0.

I am a bit ifify on this as it the uniform mass which is tripping me up, so I just thought how I would do it, if I asked the question my self, have I missed something in the question should I assume mean density of the star?
 
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What happened to the ρ(r) term in eqn 1?
 
haruspex said:
What happened to the ρ(r) term in eqn 1?

Sorry my corrections as follows:
$$\frac{dp}{dr}=-\frac{4}{3}G\pi r<\rho >^2$$

carrying through my edit

$$P_c=\frac{2}{3}G\pi R^2<\rho >^2$$
 
Taylor_1989 said:
Sorry my corrections as follows:
$$\frac{dp}{dr}=-\frac{4}{3}G\pi r<\rho >^2$$

carrying through my edit

$$P_c=\frac{2}{3}G\pi R^2<\rho >^2$$
Looks right to me.
 
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