Chapter 18: Problem 48
Be sure to show all calculations clearly and state your final answers in complete sentences. A Black Hole II? You've just discovered another new X-ray binary, which we will call Hyp-X2 ("Hyp" for hypothetical). The system Hyp-X2 contains a bright, G2 main-sequence star orbiting an unseen companion. The separation of the stars is estimated to be 12 million kilometers, and the orbital period of the visible star is 5 days. a. Use Newton's version of Kepler's third law to calculate the sum of the masses of the two stars in the system. (Hint: See Mathematical Insight \(15.4 .\) ) Give your answer in both kilograms and solar masses \(\left(M_{\mathrm{Sun}}=2.0 \times 10^{30} \mathrm{kg}\right)\) b. Determine the mass of the unseen companion. Is it a neutron star or a black hole? Explain. (Hint: A G2 mainsequence star has a mass of \(1 M\) sun.)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.