Binary Star System: Calculating Occultation Angle & Eclipse Duration

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the occultation angle and eclipse duration in a binary star system consisting of two stars, S1 and S2, with effective temperatures of 25000 K and 2000 K, respectively. The stars have radii of R1=Rsun/100 and R2=50 Rsun, with S2 orbiting S1 in a circular path with a period of 180 days. The limit angle for occultation is determined to be 20°, and the conditions for primary eclipse are established based on the positions of the stars relative to the observer.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of binary star systems and their dynamics
  • Familiarity with Kepler's laws of planetary motion
  • Knowledge of gravitational forces and orbital mechanics
  • Basic trigonometry for calculating angles and distances
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Kepler's Third Law in detail, particularly its application to binary star systems
  • Learn about the methods for calculating eclipse durations in binary systems
  • Explore the concept of light curves in eclipsing binaries
  • Investigate the effects of varying inclination angles on occultation events
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy students, astrophysicists, and anyone interested in the dynamics of binary star systems and the phenomena of eclipses and occultations.

RHK
Messages
64
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Two stars, S1 and S2, with effective temperature of Te,1=25000 K and Te,2= 2000 K and photospheric radius of R1=Rsun/100 and R2=50 Rsun make a binary system.
If the Star S2 is in circular orbit around the S1 with revolution period of P=180 days (1 day=24 hours), and S1 has a mass of M1=1.3 Msun, while the inclination angle i is the angle between the normal to orbital plane toward the observer and the visual line of the terrestrial observer (0°<i<90°), calculate:

(i) the limit angle, beyond which there will be occultation between the two stars;

(ii) if there is occultation, is the primary eclipse (more diminution of bolometric luminosity) when Ss is between S1 and the observer, or viceversa?

(iii) if i=90° how long the total eclipse is?

Homework Equations



Rsun and Msun are given.
Third Keplero's Law: P2 (M1+M2)=$1frac{4\pi^2}{G}$d3 where P is the period and d the distance between the two stars.

The Attempt at a Solution



Of course, an eclipse/occultation can occur if i ≈ 90°.
The exact angle depends on the stars dimension, i guess.
Bigger the star is (in radius), lower the angle can be.
However, i can't understand how to relate the radii and the angle.
Any suggestion please?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
This is my new attempt:

Assuming circular motion, the equation that rules the system is the equilibrium between graviational attraction toward the massive star in the center M1 and the centrifugal force of the arounding star M2

GM_1M_2 / (d^2) = M_2 (v^2)/(d) = M_2 \omega v

that can be rewritten in terms of only one unknown: GM_1 = (v^2)/(d) = \omega v = \omega d

where d is the distance between the stars, and \omega is the angular velocity, obtainable as the frequency of the period: P=2\pi/\omega.

This allows to obtain the distance d, and to write the goniometric relation between the distance, the obscuration angle and the radiius of the star S2, imaging a circle with the center in the center of the star S1:

d sin \theta = R_2

That is, \theta is the angle "occuped" by the star radius, and it has to be "free" to avoid obscuration.
When the second star S2, more distant, passes in front of the star S1, then there is obscuration.

So, the limit angle is: \theta_{lim}= 90°- \theta=20° according to the other counts.

If my following reflections about this will confirm this way to proceed, i will post the second point too.
Regards.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K