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Karnataka Board PUCPUC Science Class 11

A Tunnel is Dug Along a Diameter of the Earth. Find the Force on a Particle of Mass M Placed in the Tunnel at a Distance X from the Centre.

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Question

A tunnel is dug along a diameter of the earth. Find the force on a particle of mass m placed in the tunnel at a distance x from the centre.

Sum
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Solution

Mass of the Earth,

\[M = \left( \frac{4}{3} \right)\pi R^3 \rho\] ...(i)

Consider an imaginary sphere of radius x with centre O as shown in the figure below :

\[\text { Mass of the imaginary sphere }, M' = \left( \frac{4}{3} \right)\pi x^3 \rho . . . (ii)\]

\[\text { From (i) and (ii), we have : }\]

\[\frac{M'}{M} = \frac{x^3}{R^3}\]

∴ Gravitational force on the particle of mass m is given by F \[= \frac{GMm}{x^2}\]

\[\Rightarrow F = \frac{GM x^3 m}{R^3 x^2} = \frac{GMm}{R^3}x\]

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Chapter 11: Gravitation - Exercise [Page 226]

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HC Verma Concepts of Physics Volume 1 and 2 [English]
Chapter 11 Gravitation
Exercise | Q 11 | Page 226

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