The density of a certain planet varies with radial distance as: rho(r)= rho0(1-αr/R0) where R0= 25.12 x 106 m is the radius of the planet, rho0= 3800.0 kg/m3 is its central density, and α = 0.24. What is the total mass of this planet ?

Answer :

Answer:

[tex]2.07\times10^{26}kg[/tex]

Explanation:

Mass of the planet can be found by integrating the density and the volume.

The volume of the planet would be:

dV = 4πr²dr

dM= ρ(r) 4πr²dr

Total mass:

[tex]\int_{0}^{M} dm=\int_{0}^{R_o} \rho(r)4\pi r^2dr\\ \Rightarrow \int_{0}^{M} dm=\int_{0}^{R_o} \rho_o(1-\frac{\alpha r}{R_o})4\pi r^2dr\\ \Rightarrow \int_{0}^{M} dm=4\pi \rho_o \int_{0}^{R_o}(r^2-\frac{\alpha r^3}{R_o})dr\\ \Rightarrow M= 4\pi (\rho_o\frac{r^3}{3}-\frac{\alpha r^4}{4R_o})[/tex]

Insert the limits and then substitute the values:

[tex]M=4\pi \rho_o (\frac{R_o^3}{3}-\frac{\alpha R_o^3}{4})\\ M =4\pi \rho_oR_o^3 (\frac{1}{3}-\frac{\alpha}{4})\\ M= 4\times 3.14 \times 3800.0\times (25.12\times10^6)^3(\frac{1}{3}-\frac{0.24}{4})\\ M=2.07\times10^{26}kg[/tex]

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