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I was asked this by somebody doing a homework question, and I realized
that I don't know how to solve for the mass of the smaller body. Here's the question: "You observe a main sequence type B5 star that moves as if it is in a binary system, but no companion is visible. If the period of the system is 8.4 years and the semi-major axis is 8 AU, what is the mass of the system? What is the mass of the companion?" Using Kepler's 3rd Law, I was able to deduce that the star is about 7.25 solar masses, which conforms well to known masses of Class B5 stars (eg. Rho Aurigae, http://is.gd/w85MlS). Here's the formula I used: G · m · t² = 4 · π² · r³ Now, how do you solve for the mass of the companion? I assume it is a planet, being much smaller than the star. Yousuf Khan |
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