Question Details

Suppose a vertical tunnel is dug along the diameter of earth assumed to be a sphere of uniform mass having density ρ. If a body of mass m is thrown in this tunnel, its acceleration at a distance y from the centre is given by

Options

A

4πGρym/3

B

3πGρy/4

C

4πρy/3

D

4πGρy/3

Correct Answer :

4πGρy/3

Solution :

The correct option is 4πGρy/3.

To find the acceleration of a body of mass m inside a vertical tunnel dug along the diameter of the Earth, we can analyze the gravitational force acting on the body at a distance y from the center of the Earth.

Step 1: Understand the Shell Theorem
According to Newton's shell theorem, when a body is located inside a solid sphere of uniform density at a distance y from the center, the net gravitational force exerted on the body by the spherical shell outside of radius y is zero. Therefore, the gravitational force acting on the body is solely due to the mass of the sphere of radius y beneath it.

Step 2: Calculate the mass of the inner sphere
Let My be the mass of the Earth's sphere of radius y. Since the Earth is assumed to be of uniform density ρ, the mass is the volume of this smaller sphere multiplied by its density:

My=Volume×Density=43πy3ρ

Step 3: Calculate the gravitational force on the body
Using Newton's law of universal gravitation, the attractive gravitational force F acting on the body of mass m at a distance y is given by:

F=GMymy2

Substituting the expression for My into the equation:

F=G·43πy3ρ·my2

Simplifying the terms by canceling y2:

F=43πGρym

Step 4: Determine the acceleration
Using Newton's second law of motion (F=ma), the acceleration a of the body is:

a=Fm

Substituting the force expression:

a=43πGρymm=4πGρy3

Therefore, the acceleration of the body at a distance y from the center is 4πGρy3.

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