Pressure on a Sphere due to an Interior Force

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the pressure on the surface of a sphere with mass M and radius R, where the interior mass is uniformly distributed. The pressure is derived from the gravitational forces acting on the surface shell of the sphere, represented by the formula for pressure as weight per unit area. The participants emphasize that pressure is determined by the mass times gravitational force divided by the surface area of the sphere.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly gravitational forces.
  • Familiarity with the formula for pressure (P = F/A).
  • Knowledge of geometric calculations for the surface area of a sphere.
  • Concept of uniformly distributed mass within a volume.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of gravitational pressure in spherical coordinates.
  • Explore the implications of varying mass distributions on pressure calculations.
  • Learn about the applications of pressure calculations in astrophysics.
  • Investigate the relationship between pressure and density in fluid mechanics.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, engineers working with spherical structures, and anyone interested in gravitational effects on mass distributions.

cyborg6060
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Consider a sphere of mass M and radius R. The interior of the sphere is a uniformly distributed mass M.

The surface shell of the sphere has a certain mass dm. What is the pressure on the surface of the sphere due to gravitational forces?
 
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wouldnt the pressure just be the weight per surface area?

the weight is just the mass times the gravitational force.

the area is easy to calculate
 

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