The density inside a solid sphere of radius a is given by ρ =ρ0a/r where ρ0 is the density at the surface and r denotes the distance from the centre. The gravitational field due to this sphere at a distance 2a form its centre is..
12πGρ0a
The field is required at a point outside the sphere. Dividing the sphere in concentric shells, each shell can be replaced by a point particle at its centre having mass equal to the mass of the shell. Thus, the whole sphere can be replaced by a point particle at its centre having mass equal to the mass of the given sphere. If the mass of the sphere is M, the gravitational field at the given point is
E=GM(2a)2=GM4a2−−−−−−−−(i)
The mass M may be calculated as follows. consider a concentric shell of radius r and thickness dr.
its volume is dV=(4πr2)dr and its mass is dM=ρdV=(ρ0ar)(4πr2dr)
=4πρ0ar dr.
The mass of the whose sphere is
M=a∫04πρ0ar dr
=2πρ0a3.
Thus, by (i) the gravitational field is
E=2πGρ0a34a2=12πGρ0a.
mass of the sphere is M, the gravitational field at the given point is