Question

. If you detect a companion of a star by the wobble(or greater motion) of that star (using the Doppler Effect), but that companion is unseen, what is that companion most likely to be if it has a mass of: (Choose from these: white dwarf (0.3-1.4 Mo), neutron star (1.4-2.2 Me), stellar mass black hole (2.2-100 Mo), brown dwarf (0.01-0,07 Mo), or planet (less than 0.01 Mo).

a. 3.4 Mo
b. 1.7 Mo
c. 13.5 Mo
d. 0.06 Mo
e. 000003 Mo 0
f. .8 Mo

Answer 1

The unseen companion's classification depends on its mass: 3.4 Mo indicates a stellar mass black hole, 1.7 Mo suggests a neutron star, 13.5 Mo corresponds to a stellar mass black hole, 0.06 Mo is likely a brown dwarf, 000003 Mo points to a planet, and .8 Mo suggests a white dwarf. Option number C is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you detect a companion of a star by the wobble—or greater motion—of that star using the Doppler Effect, but that companion is unseen, the companion's nature can be inferred from its mass:

• a. 3.4 Mo (solar masses)
  The companion with a mass of 3.4 Mo is most likely a stellar mass black hole, as it exceeds the maximum mass for a neutron star which is around 2.2 Mo.
• b. 1.7 Mo
  The companion with a mass of 1.7 Mo is most likely a neutron star, as its mass falls within the range of 1.4-2.2 Mo for neutron stars.
• c. 13.5 Mo
  A companion with a mass of 13.5 Mo would also be classified as a stellar mass black hole due the mass being significantly greater than the maximum for a neutron star.
• d. 0.06 Mo
  A companion mass of 0.06 Mo suggests that it could be a brown dwarf, which has a mass between about 0.01 Mo and 0.07 Mo.
• e. 000003 Mo
  The companion with this tiny mass would most likely be a planet, as it is less than 0.01 Mo, which is the threshold beneath which objects are considered planets.
• f. .8 Mo
  A mass of .8 Mo would indicate a white dwarf, as the mass is within the range for white dwarfs of 0.3 to 1.4 Mo.