A How is the Temperature of Gas in a Cluster Calculated?

  • A
  • Thread starter Thread starter physgeek2033
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Gas Temperature
AI Thread Summary
The temperature of gas in a cluster is calculated using the formula kT = mpv^2, where k is the Boltzmann constant and mp is the mass of a proton. A typical velocity dispersion of 700 km/s translates to approximately 6 x 10^7 K when the values are correctly plugged into the equation. The discrepancy arises from not converting the velocity from km/s to m/s, which is crucial for accurate calculations. By ensuring all units are consistent, the calculation aligns with the expected temperature. Accurate unit conversion is essential for deriving the correct temperature of gas in astrophysical contexts.
physgeek2033
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
TL;DR Summary
I am just trying to parse the following together:
The following link states that: "since kT ~ mpv2. A typical velocity dispersion 700 km/s implies T ~ 6 x 107 K from this source alone."

How did they get 6*10^7K ?

When I try this, using mp = 1.67*10^-27 , k =1.38*10^-23 I end up getting 84 as a final answer, nowhere near 6*10^7. Can anyone clarify this? https://pages.astronomy.ua.edu/keel...o the temperature associated with the cluster
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Check your work. Plugging in ##\frac{m_p v^2}{k}## gives me about ##6*10^7##.
Remember to convert 700 km/s to m/s.
 
TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'
This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
Back
Top