Two stars of equal mass are orbiting each other at a separation of 2.00 1011 meters between their centers. If the force between the stars is determined to be 9.7077 1028 N, what is the mass of one of the stars?
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the force of gravity is described by
F = G m 1 m1/d^2
F = force
G = newtonian grav cst = 6.67 x 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2
m1, m2 = masses of objects
d = separation
heer, m1 = m2, so we have
F = G m^2/d^2
m = Sqrt[F d^2/G]
m = Sqrt[9.71x10^28N x (2.0x10^11m)^2/6.67x10^-11] = 7.63x10^30kg (about 4 times the mass of the sun)
F = G m 1 m1/d^2
F = force
G = newtonian grav cst = 6.67 x 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2
m1, m2 = masses of objects
d = separation
heer, m1 = m2, so we have
F = G m^2/d^2
m = Sqrt[F d^2/G]
m = Sqrt[9.71x10^28N x (2.0x10^11m)^2/6.67x10^-11] = 7.63x10^30kg (about 4 times the mass of the sun)