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Potential Theory 1

This document discusses the importance and applications of the gravity field. It explains that gravity is used as a reference for elevation, orientation, and geodetic instruments. Measurements of gravity can provide information about the Earth's interior structure, mass transport, and tides. Applications include height systems, exploration, geodynamics, and ocean circulation. The document also provides mathematical formulas and equations relating to Newton's law of gravity, Poisson's equation, gravitational potential, and modeling the gravity field of spherical and rotating bodies like the Earth.

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HANY ARDIANTY
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47 views11 pages

Potential Theory 1

This document discusses the importance and applications of the gravity field. It explains that gravity is used as a reference for elevation, orientation, and geodetic instruments. Measurements of gravity can provide information about the Earth's interior structure, mass transport, and tides. Applications include height systems, exploration, geodynamics, and ocean circulation. The document also provides mathematical formulas and equations relating to Newton's law of gravity, Poisson's equation, gravitational potential, and modeling the gravity field of spherical and rotating bodies like the Earth.

Uploaded by

HANY ARDIANTY
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dr.

Henri Kuncoro
1. Why is the gravity field of importance?
2. Some application of the gravity field
3. Potential Theory
§ ”Elevation above sea level" is, in fact, "elevation above geoid"

§ ”Horizontal" and "vertical" relate to the gravity field

§ Many geodetic instruments use gravity as reference

§ Gravity measurements contain information on the Earth's interior:


§ The static (time-independent) gravity field relates to the strength within the
Earth, the composition near the Earth's surface, and slow dynamical
processes within the Earth.
§ The time-variable gravity field relates to mass transport and tides
§ Mass of the Earth

§ Height systems (orthometric heights, linking national and regional height


systems)
§ Exploration (minerals, oil, groundwater, ...)

§ Geodynamics (convection and plate tectonics, isostasy, postglacial rebound)

§ Ocean circulation (dynamic sea surface topography)


§ Solid Earth tides ocean tidal loading

§ Free oscillations of the Earth

§ Groundwater and soil moisture changes (in situ)

§ Mass transport in the fluid envelope of the Earth


G has been measured for more than 300 years; still large uncertainties.

Force F on a point masses m, separated by a distance r from the (spherical)


Earth with mass ME and is:

Measurement of GME is still an issue (will be addressed later)

GME determines the period T of (small) satellites:


Gravitational force exerted on a small mass m at position x outside of Earth by a
small mass element dm' at position x' in Earth:

Infinitesimal gravitational dg acceleration due to dm:

Gravitational acceleration g:

Gravitational potential ɸ:

Integral form of Newton's Law of Gravity


Nabla operator:

Gravitational potential ɸ:

This is the integral form of Newton's Law of Gravity.


Laplace operator:

Poisson's equation:

- Newton's Law of Gravity implies Poisson's equation


- Poisson's equation implies Newton's Law of Gravity

Proof involves use of Green's Functions


- Green's Function of Poisson's equation:

Continuity conditions for density discontinuities:


Gauss' Law:

The integral over the surface of the normal component of g is proportional


to the total mass inside the surface.

Region with no mass density:


Laplace equation:

In most cases, a combination of Newton's Law of Gravity and the Lapace


equation is sufficient to solve the problem.
Gravitational potential for a uniform sphere:

Good approximation for the Earth: g ~ 9.82 ms-2

Gravity potential of a rotating elliptical body:


For a orthogonal coordinate system with the Z-axis coinciding with the
rotation axis of the Earth, and origin in the Center of Mass (CM):

Integral form:

Poisson's equation:

Laplace equation:

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