Undergrad Calculating Speed and Acceleration of a Gas Blob Orbiting a Massive Black Hole

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A mega-maser-emitting blob of gas orbits a massive black hole with a mass of 10^6 solar masses at a distance of one light year. The discussion centers on calculating the speed and acceleration of the blob using orbital mechanics formulas. Participants clarify that the blob is indeed in a circular orbit, allowing for straightforward calculations. The relevant formulas for speed (v) and acceleration (a) are provided, with one user confirming they have successfully applied them. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of the gas blob's motion in relation to the black hole.
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Hi everyone,
I'm confused with how to calculate the speed and accelerations of gas blobs emitted from mega-masers in orbit around massive black holes in the centre of a galaxy.
A mega-maser-emitting blob of gas is in orbit around a massive black hole in the centre of a galaxy. The black hole has a mass of 106 solar masses, and the blob of gas is in a circular orbit one light year away. What is the speed and acceleration of the blob?
 
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This is a simple orbital mechanics problem. What is the speed and acceleration of an object orbiting at a distance R around a body of mass M? By the way, I suspect you mean 10^6 solar masses, not 106 solar masses.
 
phyzguy said:
This is a simple orbital mechanics problem. What is the speed and acceleration of an object orbiting at a distance R around a body of mass M? By the way, I suspect you mean 10^6 solar masses, not 106 solar masses.

Did he ask that? You could read it as an object (mega-maser) launching something (a blob). The object has the orbital mechanics. If it really is just a maser then the emission travels at light speed.

I am not sure if I understood astrophysical masers. I thought the molecules were all around an object and not necessarily in a particular orbit.
 
stefan r said:
Did he ask that? You could read it as an object (mega-maser) launching something (a blob). The object has the orbital mechanics. If it really is just a maser then the emission travels at light speed.

I am not sure if I understood astrophysical masers. I thought the molecules were all around an object and not necessarily in a particular orbit.
I don't know how else to interpret, "the blob of gas is in a circular orbit one light year away. What is the speed and acceleration of the blob?"
 
phyzguy said:
I don't know how else to interpret, "the blob of gas is in a circular orbit one light year away. What is the speed and acceleration of the blob?"

yes i think that's exactly how to do it, i think i figured it out by using the formulas a=v^4/GM and v=(GM/r)^1/2. thank you!
 

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