Universal Gravitation and neutron stars

AI Thread Summary
To determine the minimum mass of a neutron star rotating at 6 rev/s with a radius of 15 km, centripetal acceleration must equal gravitational acceleration. The equations for centripetal force and gravitational force are applied, leading to the relationship Gm/r² = v²/r. After calculating the linear velocity as 180π km/s, the mass can be derived using m = v²r/G. A calculation error was identified involving a missing "pi," which affected the final mass result.
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Homework Statement


Certain neutron stars (extremely dense stars) are believed to be rotating at about 6 rev/s. If such a star has a radius of 15 km, what must be its minimum mass so that material on its surface remains in place during the rapid rotation?


G=6.67*10-11m3 kg-1 s-2

Homework Equations


F_c{}=\frac{mv^{2}}{r}
F_g{}=\frac{GM_1{M_2{}}}{r^{2}}

The Attempt at a Solution


30\pikm*6rev/s=180\pikm/s
which gives the linear velocity of something on the surface of the neutron star... but I'm clueless as to how to arrive at a mass of the star from it. I could the Centripetal acceleration but I'm not sure how that's related here. the only thing I can think of there is setting the centripetal acceleration equal to the gravitation acceleration which gives

Gm/r2=v2/r
m=v2r/G
which yields something like 7.28635682 × 10^24(kg?)

I'm just looking for advice on what I'm actually looking to do. I don't know what I should be looking for...
 
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Your formula is correct, but check the calculation.

ehild
 
Thank you very much! I realized a dropped a "pi" at some point when I went back over it.
 
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