How Do You Calculate the Mass of a Planet in Circular Orbit?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the mass of a planet in circular orbit based on the gravitational force it experiences from a star and its orbital speed. The problem is situated within the context of gravitational physics and orbital mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express uncertainty about the equations provided and whether they are appropriate for the problem. There is a suggestion that additional information, such as the mass of the star, is necessary to proceed. Some participants consider the implications of the planet's high orbital speed and its effect on the calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various interpretations of the problem. Some have proposed using the mass of known planets to derive potential solutions for the star's mass and orbital radius. There is no explicit consensus on how to proceed, but several productive lines of inquiry are being examined.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may be a challenge and that the assumption of a perfect circular orbit is significant. The high orbital speed raises questions about the nature of the star and the feasibility of the scenario presented.

DangoTango
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Homework Statement


A planet orbiting a star experiences a force of magnitude 3x1022N due to gravitational attraction to the star. If the planet has a speed of 2x107 m/s to complete on orbit, calculate the mass of the planet and radius of the orbit? Assume the orbit to be a perfect circle.

Homework Equations


astro02.gif

I believe I have to use these equations but none of them really work for me at the moment.
gravity-solving-a-uniform-circular-motion-equation.png

I figured this would have something to do with it but I don't understand it.

The Attempt at a Solution


When I use any of the equations above I'm always missing something. These equations have been given by my teacher but at this point I'm not even sure I have the right equations. My attempt at a solution isn't even worth writing here. Please help!
 
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DangoTango said:
When I use any of the equations above I'm always missing something. These equations have been given by my teacher but at this point I'm not even sure I have the right equations. My attempt at a solution isn't even worth writing here. Please help!

It seems to me you need more information, like the mass of the star. What you have is correct, but only the ratio ##\frac{m}{r}## can be found,
 
PeroK said:
It seems to me you need more information, like the mass of the star. What you have is correct, but only the ratio ##\frac{m}{r}## can be found,
Yeah that's what I was thinking bu thtis question was left as a challenge meaning that there must be something that can be done. I'd like to point out that it says the planet's orbit is a perfect circle.
 
That orbit speed, 2 x 107 m/s seems awfully high to me. That's over 20,000 km/sec. For comparison Mercury's orbit speed is less that 50 km/sec, Earth's is around 30 km/sec. So, not a typical situation.

This planet couldn't orbit a typical star like our Sun (that orbit speed would imply an orbit well inside the Sun). So I'm thinking maybe you need to guess the nature of the star it orbits to deduce additional information?
 
DangoTango said:
Yeah that's what I was thinking bu thtis question was left as a challenge meaning that there must be something that can be done. I'd like to point out that it says the planet's orbit is a perfect circle.

Why not take the planet's mass to be a) the Earth's mass; b) Mercury's mass and see what solutions you get for the star's mass, ##M##, and the orbital radius, ##r##?
 

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