Galaxy rotation and Kepler law

In summary, Kepler's third law states that the ratio of the squares of the periods of any two planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of their average distances from the sun. This is true in the solar system, where the combined mass of the Sun, Mercury and Venus affects Earth's orbital speed. However, in the galaxy, the additional mass interior to you as you move out is not negligible. This is due to the presence of vast amounts of dark matter surrounding galaxies.
  • #1
pixel01
688
1
According to Kepler third law, the ratio of the squares of the periods of any two planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of their average distances from the sun.
If I can apply this to the rotaion of galaxy, meaning stars in inner part will orbit much faster than the outer ones. But it seems not.
Anyonoe please explain to me this.
Thanks.
 
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  • #2
That's because the Sun is a fixed mass at the center of our solar system. But as you get further from the galactic core, there are more stars interior to you, adding to the mass that you would use to compute your orbital velocity.

Technically, this happens in the solar system. Earth orbits the combined mass of the Sun, Mercury and Venus. So it orbits a little faster than it would if Mercury and Venus did not exist. But since Mercury and Venus are insignificant compared to the Sun, their effect is negligible. But in the galaxy, the additional mass interior to you as you move out is not negligible.
 
  • #3
tony873004 said:
That's because the Sun is a fixed mass at the center of our solar system. But as you get further from the galactic core, there are more stars interior to you, adding to the mass that you would use to compute your orbital velocity.

This is interesting in that I have been researching this topic throughout the day today. It seems that in fact after a certain distance from a galactic core, orbital velocities of stars become fairly constant in apparent contradiction of your statement.

The reason appears to be the presence of vast amounts of dark matter surrounding galaxies; the gravitational effect being the explanation for the faster-than-expected orbital velocities of outer systems. My reading suggests that the ratio of dark matter to luminescent matter is in the ballpark of 100:1.
 
  • #4
k*r instead of k/(r^2)

As you know Kepler's laws are true for simple garvitional fields , but talking about galaxies and stars in it , the gravity isn't the same as the gravity between two "very small" objects.
To sum up what Tony873004 and WhyIsItSo said , in situations of this kind the force is: -Kr instead of -K/r2!
just for Mg use 4[tex]\pi[/tex]r2[tex]\rho[/tex] to get what I'm saying
Thanks a lot!
 

1. How does Kepler's law explain the rotation of galaxies?

Kepler's laws of planetary motion state that the orbit of a planet follows an elliptical path with the sun at one of the foci. In the case of galaxies, the stars within a galaxy are also in motion, following a similar elliptical path around the center of the galaxy. This is due to the gravitational pull of the central supermassive black hole, which acts as the "sun" of the galaxy.

2. What evidence supports the application of Kepler's law to galaxies?

Observations of the rotational velocities of stars within galaxies have provided evidence for the application of Kepler's laws to galaxies. According to Kepler's third law, the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the distance from the central body. Similarly, in galaxies, the orbital velocity of stars is proportional to their distance from the center, confirming the validity of Kepler's laws.

3. How does the rotation of a galaxy affect its shape?

The rotation of a galaxy has a significant impact on its shape. As the stars within a galaxy orbit around the center, they create a centrifugal force that counteracts the gravitational pull towards the center. This results in a flattened, disk-like shape for spiral galaxies, and a more spheroidal shape for elliptical galaxies.

4. Can Kepler's law be applied to all types of galaxies?

While Kepler's laws can be used to explain the rotation of most galaxies, there are some exceptions. In irregular galaxies, such as the Large Magellanic Cloud, the motion of stars is not as orderly and follows a more chaotic pattern. As a result, Kepler's laws may not accurately describe the rotation of these types of galaxies.

5. How does the mass distribution within a galaxy affect its rotation according to Kepler's law?

The mass distribution within a galaxy plays a crucial role in its rotation according to Kepler's law. The more massive a galaxy is, the stronger the gravitational pull towards its center, resulting in faster rotation speeds for stars farther from the center. This explains why spiral galaxies, which have a more concentrated mass distribution, tend to rotate faster than elliptical galaxies with a more diffuse mass distribution.

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