un:virial-theorem
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| un:virial-theorem [2025/10/25 14:06] – asad | un:virial-theorem [2025/10/25 14:17] (current) – asad | ||
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| Starting from hydrostatic equilibrium, | Starting from hydrostatic equilibrium, | ||
| - | |||
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | \frac{dP}{dr} = -\rho(r)\frac{G M(r)}{r^2}, | + | \frac{dP}{dr}=-\rho(r)\frac{G\,M(r)}{r^{2}}, |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | + | multiply by the spherical volume element \(4\pi r^{3}dr\) and integrate from center (\(r=0\)) to surface (\(r=R\)): | |
| - | we multiply | + | |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | \int_0^R 4\pi r^3 \frac{dP}{dr} \, dr = -\int_0^R 4\pi r^3 \rho(r)\frac{G M(r)}{r^2} \, dr. | + | \int_{0}^{R}4\pi r^{3}\frac{dP}{dr}\, |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | --- | + | **Left-hand side (pressure term).** Integrate by parts: |
| - | + | ||
| - | **Left-hand side (pressure term):** | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | Integrate by parts: | + | |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | \int_0^R 4\pi r^3 dP = \Big[4\pi r^3 P\Big]_0^R - \int_0^R 12\pi r^2 P\, dr. | + | \int_{0}^{R}4\pi r^{3}dP=\Big[4\pi r^{3}P\Big]_{0}^{R}-\int_{0}^{R}12\pi r^{2}P\,dr |
| + | \approx-3\!\int_{0}^{R}4\pi r^{2}P\, | ||
| $$ | $$ | ||
| + | where \(P(R)\simeq 0\). | ||
| - | At the surface \(P(R)\approx 0\), and at the center \(r=0\), the first term vanishes, leaving: | + | **Right-hand side (gravity term).** Using \(dM=4\pi r^{2}\rho\,dr\), |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | \int_0^R 4\pi r^3 dP \approx -3\!\int_0^R 4\pi r^2 P\, dr = -3\!\int P\, dV. | + | -\int_{0}^{R}4\pi r^{3}\rho\,\frac{G\,M}{r^{2}}\,dr |
| + | = -\int_{0}^{R}\frac{G\, | ||
| + | \equiv \Omega , | ||
| $$ | $$ | ||
| + | which is the (negative) **gravitational potential energy**. | ||
| - | --- | + | Equating both sides gives the pressure–gravity balance: |
| - | + | ||
| - | **Right-hand side (gravitational term):** | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | Using \(dM = 4\pi r^2 \rho\, dr\), | + | |
| - | $$ | + | |
| - | -\int_0^R 4\pi r^3 \rho \frac{G M}{r^2} dr = -\int_0^R \frac{G M(r)}{r}\, dM(r). | + | |
| - | $$ | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | But this is precisely the **gravitational potential energy** of the system, | + | |
| - | $$ | + | |
| - | \Omega = -\int_0^R \frac{G M(r)}{r}\, dM(r). | + | |
| - | $$ | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | --- | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | Equating both sides gives the **pressure–gravity balance**: | + | |
| \begin{equation} | \begin{equation} | ||
| - | 3\!\int P\, dV + \Omega = 0. | + | 3\!\int P\, |
| \end{equation} | \end{equation} | ||
| - | For an **ideal gas**, where the internal (thermal) kinetic energy is related to pressure by | + | For an **ideal gas** the thermal kinetic energy is \(K=\tfrac{3}{2}\!\int P\, |
| - | \( K = \tfrac{3}{2}\!\int P\, dV \), | + | |
| - | this can be written as: | + | |
| \begin{equation} | \begin{equation} | ||
| - | 2K + \Omega = 0. | + | 2K+\Omega=0, |
| \end{equation} | \end{equation} | ||
| - | + | the virial theorem | |
| - | This is the **virial theorem** — it expresses the global equilibrium between the total kinetic energy and the gravitational potential | + | |
| ===== Satellites and stars ===== | ===== Satellites and stars ===== | ||
| - | A simple example | + | A satellite |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | E_k = \tfrac{1}{2} | + | K=\tfrac12 |
| - | E_p = -\frac{G M m}{r}. | + | \Omega=-\frac{G M m}{r}, |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | + | so that | |
| - | Hence, | + | |
| \begin{equation} | \begin{equation} | ||
| - | E_k = -\tfrac{1}{2} E_p, | + | K=-\tfrac12\, |
| \end{equation} | \end{equation} | ||
| - | + | consistent with \(2K+\Omega=0\). | |
| - | which satisfies | + | |
| {{https:// | {{https:// | ||
| - | Now imagine a **star | + | A **star |
| - | as it radiates | + | |
| - | To restore equilibrium, | + | |
| As the star shrinks: | As the star shrinks: | ||
| - | * \(E_p\) becomes more negative (stronger | + | * \(\Omega\) becomes more negative (stronger |
| - | * \(E_k\) increases (particles move faster), | + | * \(K\) increases (higher temperature). |
| - | * and the temperature rises. | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | Thus, when the star loses energy, it actually gets hotter — a hallmark of **negative specific heat**. | + | |
| - | Removing energy makes it hotter because more gravitational binding energy is converted into kinetic energy. | + | |
| - | This leads to a **quasi-stable equilibrium** during stellar formation or collapse. | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | During stellar birth, the collapsing gas cloud spins faster and heats up until internal pressure and rotation counteract gravity. | + | |
| - | During stellar death, as nuclear fuel runs out, the core again contracts and heats, triggering fusion of heavier elements until no further fusion is possible. | + | |
| - | When nuclear reactions in the core produce energy at exactly the rate it is lost from the surface, the star remains in **true equilibrium** — this is **hydrostatic | + | Thus a self-gravitating gas has **negative specific heat**: losing energy can raise its temperature. |
| + | During stellar birth the contracting cloud spins up and heats until pressure and rotation counter gravity; during late stages, | ||
| + | When nuclear power equals | ||
| ===== Clusters of galaxies ===== | ===== Clusters of galaxies ===== | ||
| {{https:// | {{https:// | ||
| - | The virial theorem | + | The virial theorem also yields |
| - | + | For \(N\) identical | |
| - | For a system of \(N\) galaxies, each of mass \(m\), | + | |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | 2 \sum_i \frac{1}{2} | + | 2\sum_i \tfrac12 |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | + | Rearranging, | |
| - | Rewriting and simplifying for identical masses: | + | |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | m \sum_i v_i^2 - G m^2 \sum_{i\neq j} \frac{1}{r_{ij}} = 0. | + | m\sum_i v_i^{2}-G m^{2}\sum_{i\neq j}\frac{1}{r_{ij}}=0. |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | + | Multiplying | |
| - | Multiply | + | |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | N m \left[\frac{1}{N}\sum_i v_i^2 \right] | + | N m\!\left[\frac{1}{N}\sum_i v_i^{2}\right] |
| - | - G \frac{(N m)^2}{2} \left[\frac{1}{N(N-1)/ | + | -\frac{G(Nm)^{2}}{2}\!\left[\frac{1}{N(N-1)/ |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | + | With \(M\equiv Nm\) (total mass) and defining | |
| - | If \(N(N-1)\approx N^2\) and \(M = N m\) is the total mass, we obtain: | + | |
| \begin{equation} | \begin{equation} | ||
| - | M \langle | + | M\,\langle |
| \end{equation} | \end{equation} | ||
| - | + | hence the **virial mass** | |
| - | Hence, | + | |
| \begin{equation} | \begin{equation} | ||
| - | M = \frac{2 \langle | + | M=\frac{2\,\langle |
| \end{equation} | \end{equation} | ||
| - | --- | + | Only the **line-of-sight** component \(v_{\text{los}}\) |
| - | + | Assuming | |
| - | In practice, we observe only the **line-of-sight | + | |
| - | Assuming | + | |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | \langle | + | \langle |
| $$ | $$ | ||
| - | + | Thus the virial theorem | |
| - | Thus, using the virial theorem, one can infer the **total (including dark) mass** of a cluster | + | |
| ===== Insights ===== | ===== Insights ===== | ||
| - | The virial theorem states that in any **self-gravitating system in equilibrium**, | + | The virial theorem states that for any **self-gravitating system in equilibrium**, |
| - | It connects local pressure balance to global energetics. | + | * In stars: \(3\int P\, |
| - | + | * In clusters: velocity dispersion | |
| - | * In stars, it links thermal pressure to gravitational binding energy: \(3\int P\,dV + \Omega = 0\). | + | * The negative specific heat of bound gravitating systems |
| - | * In galaxy | + | |
| - | * It explains why stars heat up as they lose energy — a consequence of negative specific heat. | + | |
| - | * It underlies stellar stability, cluster dynamics, | + | |
| ===== Inquiries ===== | ===== Inquiries ===== | ||
| - | - Derive the step \(3\int P\, dV + \Omega = 0\) from the hydrostatic equilibrium equation, showing the integration by parts. | + | - Starting from \( \frac{dP}{dr}=-\rho\, |
| - | - Explain | + | - Explain |
| - | - Using the virial theorem, derive the expression for the **virial mass** | + | - Using the cluster derivation, show how \( \langle v_{\text{los}}^{2}\rangle \) and projected \( r_{ij} \) yield \( M=2\langle v^{2}\rangle/(G\langle |
un/virial-theorem.1761422808.txt.gz · Last modified: by asad
