Question

The spectral lines of two stars in a particular eclipsing binary system shift back and forth with a period of 6 months. The lines of both stars shift by equal amounts, and the amount of the Doppler shift indicates that each star has an orbital speed of 64,000 m/s. What are the masses of the two stars

Answer 1

the masses of the two stars are; m₁ = m₂ = 4.92 × 10³⁰ kg

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the data in the question;

Time period = 6 months = 1.577 × 10⁷ s

orbital speed v = 64000 m/s

since its a circular orbit,

v = 2πr / T

we solve for r

r = vT/ 2π

r = ( 64000 × 1.577 × 10⁷ ) / 2π

r = 1.6063 × 10¹¹ m = ( (1.6063 × 10¹¹) / (1.496 × 10¹¹) )AU = 1.0737 AU

Now, from Kepler's law

T² = r³ / ( m₁ + m₂ )

T = 6 months = 0.5 years

we substitute

(0.5)² = (1.0737)³ / ( m₁ + m₂ )

0.25 = 1.2378 / ( m₁ + m₂ )

( m₁ + m₂ ) = 1.2378 / 0.25

( m₁ + m₂ ) = 4.9512

m₁ = m₂ = 4.9512 / 2 = 2.4756 solar mass

we know that solar mass = 1.989 × 10³⁰ kg

so

m₁ = m₂ = 2.4756 × 1.989 × 10³⁰ kg

m₁ = m₂ = 4.92 × 10³⁰ kg

Therefore, the masses of the two stars are; m₁ = m₂ = 4.92 × 10³⁰ kg