Where is the center of mass and black hole in this space system?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a space system containing two stars and a black hole, focusing on determining the center of mass and the black hole's location. The subject area includes concepts from astrophysics and mechanics, particularly involving mass distribution and orbital dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the center of mass using the masses and positions of the stars and the black hole. Some participants question the implications of assuming circular orbits and how this relates to the velocities of the bodies.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of circular orbits on velocity directions. There is a note of concern regarding the repetition of the thread topic, but no consensus has been reached on the calculations or assumptions involved.

Contextual Notes

Assumptions about the system include circular orbits, a shared orbital plane, and uniform orbital direction. The original poster has provided specific coordinates for the stars but expresses uncertainty about the next steps in the analysis.

Ertosthnes
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
A space system consists of two visible stars, one is a blue giant with a mass of 11M and the other is a red dwarf with a mass of 0.5M. The system also has a black hole with a mass of 2M but we don't know where it is located. The blue giant is 700 gigameters away from you along the x-axis and the red dwarf is 825 gigameters away from you 14 degrees below the x axis. The blue giant is moving in the +y direction and the dwarf moves 45 degrees clockwise of the +y direction.

We're looking for the system's center of mass, and the location of the black hole.

We also assume the following about the system:
1) Orbits are approximately circular about the system's center of mass
2) All lie in the same plane
3) All orbit in the same direction (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise)

The relevant equations are uses of algebra, trigonometry, and the center of mass equation, as far as I can tell.

So far I've mapped out the locations of the two planets; the blue giant's coordinates are (700, 0) and the red dwarf's coordinates are (800,-200). I have no idea how to continue.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If we can assume that the orbits are circular, what does this tell you about the direction of the velocity of the bodies in relation to the circular path?
 
The direction should be perpendicular.
 
I thought this post looked familiar ... and, yep, its exactly the same as this thread (less the replies). Ertosthnes, you aren't supposed to create multiple threads with the exact same topic.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
2K