Recent content by Kelli Van Brunt

##\dot r## seems it would equal zero at the point of closest approach, since that will also be a turning point for the particle, so the radial distance is not changing at that instant. I assume this is true for all basic two-body orbits? So, using ##E = \frac{m \dot r^2}{2} + \frac{L^2}{2mr^2}...

dr/dt is correct, sorry - that was what I intended v to mean but I didn't clarify that, so thank you. Does this mean that my method of taking the KE to be maximum at the instant of closest approach is incorrect, since ##\frac{1}{2} m \dot r^2## only accounts for the radial KE of the particle?

Here were my assumptions: Energy and angular momentum are both conserved because the only force acting here is a central force. The initial angular momentum of this particle is ##L = mv_0b## and we can treat E as a constant in the homework equation given above. I solved for the KE (1/2 mv^2) in...

For my original assumption where I defined n to be the number of stars, the dr was unnecessary, I agree. Looking back in the book, n referred to the density of stars instead (which was not explicitly stated, and that was what caused my confusion) which added a 1/dr factor that later had to be...

I think I can make a correction here, actually. My book did not define ##n## at all, but looking through later chapters it seems as though ##n## is more commonly used as a number density, rather than just the number of stars. In this case, setting n = # of stars / 4πr^2 dr would give me the same...

Given that L is the luminosity of a single star and there are n stars evenly distributed throughout this thin spherical shell of radius r with thickness dr, what is the total intensity from this shell of stars? My calculations were as follows: Intensity is the power per unit area per steradian...

I can't believe I missed that, thank you so much. That cleared up everything.

My apologies for not detailing my attempts at a solution; I'm not sure how to to digitally illustrate or describe the various setups I attempted before looking at the solution to this problem. I am also ONLY asking about the setup, though I included the full question for context. The solution to...

Thank you so much! I cubed it instead so that I could replace D with the expression for D in terms of w and it worked out. I'll keep this in mind in the future!

Homework Statement: A binary star system consists of M1 and M2 separated by a distance D. M1 and M2 are revolving with an angular velocity w in circular orbits about their common center of mass. Mass is continuously being transferred from one star to the other. This transfer of mass causes...