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F = ma (11–17)
Gravitation
FMA-2013-16 · 2013 F = ma (AAPT)

2013 F = ma Exam — Question 16

16. Inspired by a problem from the 2012 International Physics Olympiad, Estonia. A very large number of small particles forms a spherical cloud. Initially they are at rest, have uniform mass density per unit volume ρ0, and occupy a region of radius r0. The cloud collapses due to gravitation; the particles do not interact with each other in any other way. How much time passes until the cloud collapses fully? (The constant 0.5427 is actually q 3π 32 .)
Source: Question 16, 2013 F = ma Exam, © 2013 American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the U.S. Physics Team. Adapted by PhysicsTrainer: reformatted into a separate question and answer choices for online multiple-choice practice; any shared setup from nearby questions is repeated here. Not affiliated with or endorsed by AAPT or the U.S. Physics Team.