[Physics] Density and Gravity

accelerationdensitymassnewtonian-gravitysymmetry

Let's say we have two spheres. One is twice as dense as the other but they have the same mass. Were you to stand on the surface of each would you experience any difference in gravitational force or would they be the same?

To clarify, I am not curious as to the sphere's gravitational effects on each other, but as to whether the gravitational force one would experience on one would differ from that of the other.

Best Answer

The acceleration due to gravity $g$ on a sphere of radius $r$ with mass $M$ is given by $$g = GM / r^2$$ where $G$ is the universal constant of gravitation.

The volume of a sphere is given by $$V = \frac43 \pi r^3$$ and density $\rho$ is given by $$\rho = M / V$$ Combining those equations and eliminating $r$ we get $$g = G \left(\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)^{\frac23}M^{\frac13}\rho^{\frac23}$$ So if mass is constant and density is doubled, gravity is scaled by $2^{\frac23}$, or approximately 1.5874. So if you did this to the Earth $g$ would go up from $9.81ms^{-2}$ to $15.57ms^{-2}$.

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