Author Question: Suppose a small M type star (mass less than 0.1 solar masses) is orbiting an invisible object in ... (Read 64 times)

naturalchemist

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 542
Suppose a small M type star (mass less than 0.1 solar masses) is orbiting an invisible object in space. The radius of the orbit is 2.0 A.U., the period is 2.0 years. How massive is the invisible object? Could it be a burned out white dwarf star?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Magellan did NOT find which of these on Venus?
 
  A) impact craters, all larger than five kilometers across
  B) large shield volcanoes
  C) actual volcanic eruptions in progress
  D) coronae, huge but very flat circular features
  E) continent sized uplands



durant1234

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 338
Answer to Question 1

Using Kepler's third law, P2 = a3/(M + m), and using solar system units of years, A.U.s, and solar masses, the sum of the masses must be M + m = 2.0 solar masses. If the smaller mass is less than 0.1 solar mass then the larger mass must be greater than 1.9 solar masses. This would be appropriate for a neutron star.

Answer to Question 2

C



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

As many as 28% of hospitalized patients requiring mechanical ventilators to help them breathe (for more than 48 hours) will develop ventilator-associated pneumonia. Current therapy involves intravenous antibiotics, but new antibiotics that can be inhaled (and more directly treat the infection) are being developed.

Did you know?

Certain topical medications such as clotrimazole and betamethasone are not approved for use in children younger than 12 years of age. They must be used very cautiously, as directed by a doctor, to treat any child. Children have a much greater response to topical steroid medications.

Did you know?

Tobacco depletes the body of vitamins A, C, and E, which can result in any of the following: dry hair, dry skin, dry eyes, poor growth, night blindness, abscesses, insomnia, fatigue, reproductive system problems, sinusitis, pneumonia, frequent respiratory problems, skin disorders, weight loss, rickets, osteomalacia, nervousness, muscle spasms, leg cramps, extremity numbness, bone malformations, decayed teeth, difficulty in walking, irritability, restlessness, profuse sweating, increased uric acid (gout), joint damage, damaged red blood cells, destruction of nerves, infertility, miscarriage, and many types of cancer.

Did you know?

Amphetamine poisoning can cause intravascular coagulation, circulatory collapse, rhabdomyolysis, ischemic colitis, acute psychosis, hyperthermia, respiratory distress syndrome, and pericarditis.

Did you know?

When Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer, he called "zero degrees" the lowest temperature he was able to attain with a mixture of ice and salt. For the upper point of his scale, he used 96°, which he measured as normal human body temperature (we know it to be 98.6° today because of more accurate thermometers).

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library