# Tunnel drilled through the Earth and mechanical work

1. Oct 5, 2009

### Kolossi

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Suppose that a straight tunnel is drilled through the Earth as indicated in figure. Assume that the floor of the tunnel is frictionless and that air resistance can be neglected. If the mid-point of the tunnel is 0.8$$R_{E}$$ from the centre of the Earth, where the $$R_{E}$$ is the radius of the Earth, determine the mechanical work done by the field force in moving a 1.0 kg mass from the entrance of the tunnel to the mid-point.

2. Relevant equations
$$F=-GmM_{E}d/R_{E}^3$$, where the d is distance from the centre of the Earth

3. The attempt at a solution
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/323/soltry.jpg [Broken]

$$G\ =\ 6.673(10)\ \times\ 10^{-11}\ m^{3} kg^{-1} s^{-2}$$
$$M_{E}\ =\ 5.98\ \times\ 10^{24}\ kg$$
$$R_{E}\ =\ 6.38\ \times\ 10^{6}\ m$$
$$m\ =\ 1.0 kg$$

I get $$W\ =\ 1.1258\ \times\ 10^{7}\ J$$

According to book $$W$$ should be $$5.1\ \times\ 10^{7}\ J$$

What did I do wrong? Or is the answer in the book wrong?

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017
2. Oct 5, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

Not sure your first equation for F is correct. You are applying a linear ratio to the radius distance, but the mass of the part of the Earth inside your radius varies with the cube of the radius, doesn't it? Maybe revisit how you set up that first equation and see if that fixes the solution.

Welcome to the PF, BTW.

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017