What is the distance and mass of a binary star system with given parameters?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a binary star system where the apparent magnitude and spectral type of the primary star are provided, along with parameters like the angular semi-major axis and the period of the system. Participants are tasked with finding the distance and masses of the stars based on these parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the use of the spectral type to estimate the luminosity or mass of the primary star and question the completeness of the provided equations. There is discussion about the relevance of spectral type in the context of the problem, and whether it should be utilized in the solution.

Discussion Status

Some participants express uncertainty about the acceptance of using spectral type for mass estimation, citing that it was not covered in lectures or textbooks. Others suggest that the inclusion of spectral type implies it should be relevant to the solution, leading to a divergence in interpretations of the problem's requirements.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may include information that is not directly necessary for the solution, reflecting on the commonality of such scenarios in their coursework.

rockyleg
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Homework Statement


In an visual binary star system,the apparent magnitude of the primary star is m=9.8 and its spectrral type is G2V.The angular semi-major axis is φ=0''.1 and the period of the system is 24y.Find the distance of the system r and the two masses.The Sun's absolute magnitude is a given.(The luminance-mass relation ##L \propto M^{3.5}## is also known.)

Homework Equations


$$ M_1 +M_2 = \frac {A^3}{P^2}$$
$$ A= \frac{\phi}{\pi}$$

The Attempt at a Solution


$$ M-m=5-5logr $$
$$ M-M_{sun} = 2.5 log (\frac{L_{sun}}{L} = 3.5 x 2.5 log( \frac{M_{sun}}{M_1} ) ) $$
$$ \pi = \frac{1}{r}$$
And I'm stuck.
 
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Can you use the spectral type to estimate the luminosity or mass of the primary star?
Otherwise I think you are missing one equation.

Your luminosity/mass relation equation looks odd.
 
Thanks for replying!
Well,according to wikipedia,the mass of a standard G2V star is 1.07 solar masses but I don't think this would be an accepted solution by the examiner since spectral types weren't mentioned in the lecture and there is no spectral type to mass index in the textbook.
I might use it anyway,though.
Thanks again!
 
rockyleg said:
I don't think this would be an accepted solution by the examiner since spectral types weren't mentioned in the lecture and there is no spectral type to mass index in the textbook
There's no point in having the question specify spectral type unless you are expected to use it somehow.
 
haruspex said:
There's no point in having the question specify spectral type unless you are expected to use it somehow.
Not really.It is common in this course's problem sets to be given information that isn't part of the solution.I would guess this is common in many places,is it not?
 
rockyleg said:
Not really.It is common in this course's problem sets to be given information that isn't part of the solution.I would guess this is common in many places,is it not?
It should be more common than it is.:frown:
 
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