Calculating Mass of Star from Orbital Distance and Period

Thread starter bigtymer8700
Start date Oct 13, 2007
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Mass Orbital Period Star

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To calculate the mass of a star from its orbital distance and period, the resulting mass was found to be 2.31 x 10^30 kg. To express this mass in terms of the Sun's mass, one must take the ratio of the star's mass to the Sun's mass. This involves dividing the calculated mass of the star by the mass of the Sun. Understanding this ratio clarifies how the star's mass compares to our Sun. This method is essential for astrophysical calculations involving stellar masses.

Oct 13, 2007

bigtymer8700

iI was asked to find the mass of a star given the orbital distance and the period. my mass came out to be 2.31^30 kg. Its then asking me to express it in terms of our sun's mass. Really don't understand what it means by that

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Oct 13, 2007

hage567

Homework Helper

You take the ratio. You just divide your star's mass by that of the sun.

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