Potential of a Spheroid with Generalized Exponential Density Distribution

Abstract

The internal potential of an inhomogeneous layered spheroid with a small ellipticity and general exponential density distribution is derived in an analytical form. The results are presented in the form of standard Gauss hypergeometric function and validated numerically. The computing time when using this formula is noticeably smaller than the time required by numerical integration.

Keywords

• gravitation
• layered inhomogeneous ellipsoid
• gravitational potential