Finding the mass of our Galaxy and the amount of stars in our Galaxy

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on estimating the mass of the Milky Way Galaxy and the number of stars it contains based on the sun's rotation around the galaxy's center. The calculations provided yield a mass of approximately 3.44425 x 1041 kg and an estimated star count of 1.72213 x 1011. The assumptions include a uniform mass distribution and that each star has a mass equivalent to that of the sun, which is 2 x 1030 kg. The results are confirmed as reasonable by other participants in the discussion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational dynamics in astrophysics
  • Familiarity with the concept of mass distribution in celestial bodies
  • Basic knowledge of astronomical units, specifically light-years
  • Proficiency in using scientific notation for large numbers
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the methods for calculating the mass of galaxies using gravitational dynamics
  • Learn about the distribution of dark matter in the Milky Way Galaxy
  • Explore the techniques for estimating star counts in galaxies
  • Study the implications of mass estimates on galaxy formation and evolution
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysics students, and anyone interested in understanding the structure and composition of the Milky Way Galaxy.

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Homework Statement



The sun rotates around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy at a distance of about 30,000 light-years from the center (1 light year=9.5x10^15 meters). If it takes about 200 million years to make one rotation, estimate the mass of our Galaxy. Assume that the mass distribution of our Galaxy is concentrated mostly in a central uniform sphere. If all the stars had about the mass of our sun (2x10^30 kg), how many stars would there be in our Galaxy?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



For the mass of the Galaxy I got an answer of 3.44425x10^41 kg and I got 1.72213x10^11 stars. I'm pretty sure this isn't right. HELP!?
 
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That looks about right to me. Why do you think it's wrong?
 

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