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The two stars in a binary star system have masses 2.0×10³⁰ kg and 6.3×10³⁰ kg. They are separated by 1.8×10¹² m. What is the gravitational force between them?

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Final answer:

The gravitational force between the two stars in a binary system is calculated using the masses of the stars, their separation, and the gravitational constant by applying Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The gravitational force between two stars in a binary star system is calculated using Newton's law of universal gravitation. Given the masses of the stars are 2.0×10³° kg and 6.3×10³° kg, and their separation is 1.8×10¹² m, we apply the formula:

F = G × (M₁ × M₂) / R²,

where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant (6.67×10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²), M₁ and M₂ are the masses of the two bodies, and R is their separation. Plugging in the values:

F = 6.67×10⁻¹¹ × (2.0×10³° kg × 6.3×10³° kg) / (1.8×10¹² m)²

Note: The above expression should be computed using a calculator to obtain the numerical value of the force in newtons (N).

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