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Astronomical observations of our Milky Way galaxy indicate that it has a mass of about 8.01011solar masses. A star orbiting on the galaxy鈥檚 periphery is about 6.0104light-years from its center.

(a) What should the orbital period of that star be?

(b) If its period is 6.0107instead, what is the mass of the galaxy? Such calculations are used to imply the existence of 鈥渄ark matter鈥 in the universe and have indicated, for example, the existence of very massive black holes at the centers of some galaxies.

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. The orbital period of the star is 8.45脳1015鈥剆.
  2. The mass of the galaxy for the given orbital period is 3.04脳1043鈥刱驳.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Galaxy

A system having millions or billions of stars, as well as gas and dust, that are gravitationally bound together.

02

Calculating the star's orbital period

The connection that can be used to calculate a parent body's mass M from its satellites' orbits:

r3T2=G42M....................... ( 1 )

If a satellite's r and T are known, the parent's mass M can be estimated, or if r and M are known, T can be determined.

(a)

  • A light-year is the speed of light multiplied by a year so thatit can be written as,1鈥凩颈驳丑迟测别补谤=3108ms3600鈥剆1鈥删辞耻谤24鈥删辞耻谤1鈥刣补测365鈥刣补测s1鈥剏别补谤=9.461015myear.
  • The Orbital radius of the star r=6.00104鈥凩颈驳丑迟测别补谤s=6.001049.461015鈥刴=5.681020鈥刴.
  • The mass of the Milky Way galaxy or parent body is,M=8.01011鈥剆辞濒补谤鈥刴补蝉蝉=8.010111.91030鈥刱驳=1.521042鈥刱驳.

Putting these values in the equation

5.6810203T2=6.67310-11421.521042T2=6.67310-11421.5210425.6810203T=6.67310-11421.5210425.6810203T=8.451015鈥剆

Hence, the orbital period of the star is 8.45脳1015鈥剆.

03

Determining the mass of the galaxy for the given orbital period

(b)

  • The Orbital radius of the star, r=6.00104鈥凩颈驳丑迟测别补谤s=6.001049.461015鈥刴=5.681020鈥刴.
  • The orbital period of the star is,T=6.0107鈥剏=6.0107鈥剏365鈥刣1鈥剏24鈥删谤1鈥刣3600鈥剆1鈥删谤=1.891015鈥剆.

Putting these values in the equation ( 1 ) and we get,

5.68102031.8910152=6.67310-1142MM=5.68102031.8910152426.67310-11M=3.041043鈥刱驳

Hence, the mass of the galaxy for the given orbital period is 3.04脳1043鈥刱驳.

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