A binary star is a pair of stars which move in circular orbits around their common centre of mass.
In this question consider the stars to be point masses situated at their centres.
Fig. 3.1
[2]
where G is the gravitational constant.
Calculate the mass m of each star in terms of the mass MΘ of the Sun.
1 day = 86400 s
MΘ = 2.0 × 1030 kg
m = .......................................... MΘ [3]
The stars are observed using light that has wavelength of 656 nm in the laboratory. The observed light from the stars is Doppler shifted.
Calculate the maximum change in the observed wavelength Δλ of this light from the orbiting stars. Give your answer in nm.
Δλ = .................................. nm [2]
Fig. 3.2
[1]
[2]
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