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Title: What is the total mass of a visual binary system if its average separation is 8 AU and its period is 20 years? Post by: Ddiv7433 on Sep 3, 2012 I know that I am taking baby steps through astronomy class but it helps if I do the problem through the week and refer back to how you are doing it and compare answers. I really appreciate your help more than you will ever know..and you ever have a nursing question I am the one to answer..Thank you and thank you!
Title: What is the total mass of a visual binary system if its average separation is 8 AU and its period is 20 years? Post by: ddjv1421 on Sep 3, 2012 Newton's version of Kepler's third law tells you that d[AU]^3 = P[years]^2 * M[SolarMasses]
In this case: M = d^3/P^2 = 8^3 / 20^2 = 1.28 M_Sun. Title: What is the total mass of a visual binary system if its average separation is 8 AU and its period is 20 years? Post by: rkoch on Sep 3, 2012 M+m= A^3/P^2
M+m= 8^3/20^2 M+m= 1.28 Solar Masses |