Conservation of Momentum of a Star

In summary, the eighth brightest star in the constellation Draco, Iota Draconis, has a planet orbiting with an orbital period of 1.50 years. The mass of the star is 1.05 times that of the Sun. Using conservation of momentum, the mass of the planet can be estimated to be 0.000224 times the mass of the Sun, or 0.0037 times the mass of Jupiter.
  • #1
AxeluteZero
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Homework Statement



Iota Draconis is the eighth brightest star in the constellation Draco. Observations show that a planet, with an orbital period of 1.50 y, is orbiting this star. The mass of Iota Draconis is 1.05MSun.
(a) Estimate the size (in AU) of the semimajor axis of this planet's orbit.
1.33 AU <--- This answer has been found

(b) The radial speed of the star is observed to vary by 627 m/s. Use conservation of momentum to find the mass of the planet. Assume the orbit is circular, we are observing the orbit edge-on, and no other planets orbit Iota Draconis. Express the mass as a multiple of the mass of Jupiter.
____________ × mass of Jupiter



Homework Equations


m1v1 = m2v2

[tex]\frac{m*v^2}{r}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{G*M*m}{r^2}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



Let the equations equal each other, and you end up with:

m2 = [tex]\frac{r * M * v^2}{G}[/tex]

I'd just like to know if my math/thinking is correct so far. I should just be able to plug in numbers and get "m", right?
 
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  • #2
m2 = \frac{1.33 AU * 1.05 MSun * 627 m/s^2}{G}m2 = \frac{716.695 * 10^24 kg * 3.86 * 10^{-8} AU*MSun/yr^2}{6.674*10^{-11} Nm^2/kg^2}m2 = 2.24 * 10^{-3} MSunm2 = 0.000224 MSunm2 = 0.0037 Jupiters
 

1. What is conservation of momentum of a star?

The conservation of momentum of a star refers to the principle that the total momentum of a star and its surroundings remains constant unless acted upon by an external force. This means that the motion of a star will continue in a straight line and at a constant speed unless influenced by another force.

2. How does the conservation of momentum apply to stars?

The conservation of momentum applies to stars in the sense that they are constantly in motion and their momentum will continue in a straight line unless influenced by an external force, such as gravity from other stars or objects in their vicinity.

3. Why is the conservation of momentum important for stars?

The conservation of momentum is important for stars because it helps to explain and predict their movements and interactions with other celestial bodies. It also plays a crucial role in the formation and evolution of galaxies and other large-scale structures in the universe.

4. How is the conservation of momentum of a star calculated?

The conservation of momentum of a star can be calculated by multiplying its mass by its velocity. This value remains constant as long as there are no external forces acting upon the star.

5. Are there any exceptions to the conservation of momentum for stars?

While the conservation of momentum is a fundamental principle, there are some scenarios where it may not apply to stars. For example, in extreme situations such as during a supernova explosion, the conservation of momentum may not hold true due to the release of immense amounts of energy and mass.

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