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The Sun, which is2.2×1020mfrom the center of the Milky Way galaxy, revolves around that center once every 2.5×108years. Assuming each star in the Galaxy has a mass equal to the Sun’s mass of 2.0×1030kg, the stars are distributed uniformly in a sphere about the galactic center, and the Sun is at the edge of that sphere, estimate the number of stars in the Galaxy.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The number of stars in the galaxy are 5.1×1010.

Step by step solution

01

Step 1: Given

The sun is 2.2×1020mfar from the center of the Milky Way galaxy

The sun revolves around that center once every 2.5×108years

Each star in the galaxy has a mass equal to the sun’s mass of 2.0×1030

02

Determining the concept

Using the formula of gravitational force, centripetal force and period, find the acceleration of the sun’s motion around the galactic center. Then, using Newton’s second law, find the number of the stars.

Formulae are as follow:

Fg=GMmR2

FC=Mv2R

V=2Ï€¸éT

where, M, m are masses, R is radius, T is time, G is gravitational constant, v, V are velocities and F is corresponding force.

03

Determining the number of stars in the galaxy

Consider the total mass in the galaxy as m=NM ,

where, N is the number of stars in the galaxy and M is the mass of the sun.

Now,

Fg=GMmR2

Therefore,

Fg=GMNMR2

Fg=GNM2R2

The centripetal force on the sun is pointing towards the galactic center,

FC=Mv2R=Fg

Mv2R=GNM2R2

IfTis the period of the sun’s motion around the galactic center then,

T=2Ï€¸éV

V=2Ï€¸éT

But,

a=V2R

a=4Ï€2RT2

Therefore, according to Newton’s second law,

GNM2R2=4Ï€2MRT2

N=4Ï€2R3GT2M

As,

°Õ â¶Ä‰= â¶Ä‰2.5×108years=7.88×1015 s

N=4Ï€2(2.2×1020″¾)3(6.67×10-11″¾3/s2â‹…kg)(7.88×1015 s)2(2.0×1030 kg)

N=5.1×1010

Hence, the number of starts in the galaxy are 5.1×1010.

Therefore, using the formula of gravitational force, centripetal force and period, the acceleration of the sun around the galactic center can be found. Using Newton’s second law, the number of stars in the galaxy can be found.

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