Q77P
Question
For a spherical planet with mass , volume , and radius , derive an expression for the acceleration due to gravity at the planet’s surface, , in terms of the average density of the planet, , and the planet’s diameter, . The table gives the values of and for the eight major planets:
(a) Treat the planets as spheres. Your equation for as a function of and shows that if the average density of the planets is constant, a graph of versus will be well represented by a straight line. Graph as a function of for the eight major planets. What does the graph tell you about the variation in average density? (b) Calculate the average density for each major planet. List the planets in order of decreasing density, and give the calculated average density of each. (c) The earth is not a uniform sphere and has greater density near its center. It is reasonable to assume this might be true for the other planets. Discuss the effect this nonuniformity has on your analysis. (d) If Saturn had the same average density as the earth, what would be the value of at Saturn’s surface?
Step-by-Step Solution
Verifieda) The graph of versus will change with the change in the average density.
b) The average density of the planets in the decreasing order are of the planets Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn which are , , , , , , , respectively.
c)The eight major planets have also variable average densities due to their spin about their axis.
d) The value of the at the Saturn’s surface is .
Given data:
- The spherical planet has mass .
- The spherical planet has volume .
- The spherical planet has radius .
- The spherical planet has diameter .
The acceleration due to gravity of a planet is the ratio of the product of the Universal Gravitational constant and mass of the planet to the square of their radius.
The equation of the density of the planet is expressed as-
Here, is the density of the planet, is the mass of the planet and is the volume of the planet.
The equation of the acceleration due to gravity is expressed as-
Here, is the acceleration due to gravity, is the gravitational constant and is the radius of the spherical planet.
For and ,
a)
From the expression of the acceleration due to gravity, the graph of as a function of has been described below-
This graph is applicable for all the eight major planets if the average density of the planets is constant. However, if the average density of the planet changes, then the graph will also change.
Thus, the graph of versus will change with the change in the average density.
b)
From the equation the equation of the average density of the planets is expressed as-
As the planets are spherical in nature, then the equation of the volume of the planet can be expressed as-
Then equation becomes-
For ,
For the planet Mercury,
Substituting , and in the equation 3)
Hence, further as,
For the planet Venus,
Substituting , and in the equation ,
Hence, further as,
For the planet Earth,
Substituting , and in the equation
Hence, further as,
For the planet Mars,
Substituting , and in the equation
Hence, further as,
For the planet Jupiter,
Substituting , and in the equation 3),
Hence, further as,
For the planet Saturn,
Substituting , and in the equation 3),
Hence, further as,
For the planet Uranus,
Substituting , and in the equation 3),
Hence, further as,
For the planet Neptune,
Substituting , and in the equation 3),
Hence, further as,
Thus, the average density of the planets in the decreasing order are of the planets Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn which are , , , , , , , respectively.
c)
Along with the planet Earth, the other eight major planets are also not uniform as they spin around their axis and around the sun. However, the force of spin mainly acts against the gravity and it eventually causes the planets to more bulge out around their respective equator.
Thus, due to the spinning force, the eight major planets have also variable average densities.
d)
If the average density of Saturn is same as of the Earth, then from the equation 3), the equation of the acceleration due to gravity of Saturn can be expressed as,
For , and ,
Hence, further as,
Thus, the value of the at the Saturn’s surface is .