How to solve planet orbital question

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The discussion focuses on solving a physics problem involving a planet orbiting a star, where the radius and orbital period are given. The original poster calculated the speed of the planet using the circumference and time, then applied the centripetal and gravitational force equations to isolate the mass of the star. They questioned the validity of their method compared to a friend's approach, which utilized a different formula involving orbital period. Both methods are valid and yield similar results, demonstrating the flexibility in applying gravitational principles to solve for the star's mass. The conversation emphasizes that multiple approaches can effectively solve orbital mechanics problems.
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Ok I remeber a question on my physics test. where there's a planet orbiting a star in some other solar system.

heres what was given to me.
the radius,and the time it took for it to finish 1 revolution. I was asked to find the mass of the sun, that the planet was orbiting around

so here's what i did.

I calculated the distance, which was 2 pi r.

I divided that value by time and got the speed.

then i used Fc=FG formula.
mv^2/r = Gm1m2/r^2

with some cancellations, I am left with
v^2=Gm(star)/r

so i just isolated for m and solved it. I remember i got like some number x 10^30kg.

but did i do this question right? was this the right method of solving it?
 
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Sounds reasonable, the sun's mass is around 2^30 kg
 
i asked my friend how he had solved it, and he said he used
Fc=FG
4pi^2mr/T^2 = Gm1m2/r^2

does my method and his method work in this question?
 
It's the same thing, you can also use T = 2 \pi \sqrt{ ( r^3 / GM )}
 
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