Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781305960961
Author: Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher: Cengage Learning
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Question
Chapter 13, Problem 3RQ
To determine
To Explain:
How the rotation curve method of finding a galaxy`s mass is similar to the method used to find the masses of binary stars.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Students have asked these similar questions
Figure 2 shows the "rotation curve" of
NGC 2742. It plots the “radial velocity
(V)" (how fast material is moving
either toward or away from us) that is
measured for objects at different
distances (R = radius") from the
center of the galaxy. The center of the
galaxy is at 0 kpc (kiloparsecs) with a
speed of 9 km/sec away from us.
(These velocities have been corrected
for the observed tilt of the galaxy and
represent true orbital velocities of the
stars and gas.)
200
100
U4779
-100
As you can see, one side of the galaxy
is moving with a negative velocity
(spinning toward us), while the other
side has a positive velocity (spinning
away from us). Using Newton's
gravity equation, we will be able to
determine the gravitational mass of the
entire galaxy and how the mass varies
versus distance from the galaxy's center.
-200
-8
8
-4
Radius (kpc)
Read the following text carefully and follow the instructions:
Select five radii spaced evenly from 0-10 kpc across the galaxy. Your selections should…
If a galaxy contains a supernova that at its brightest has an apparent magnitude of +15, how far away is the galaxy? Assume that the absolute magnitude of the supernova is −17. Use the magnitude-distance formula:
d = 10(mV − MV + 5)/5 .
what is the difference between an E0 galaxy and an E1 galaxy?
Chapter 13 Solutions
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
Ch. 13 - Prob. 1RQCh. 13 - Prob. 2RQCh. 13 - Prob. 3RQCh. 13 - Prob. 4RQCh. 13 - Prob. 5RQCh. 13 - Prob. 6RQCh. 13 - Prob. 7RQCh. 13 - Prob. 8RQCh. 13 - Prob. 9RQCh. 13 - Prob. 10RQ
Ch. 13 - Prob. 11RQCh. 13 - Prob. 12RQCh. 13 - Prob. 13RQCh. 13 - From what you know about star formation and the...Ch. 13 - Prob. 2DQCh. 13 - Prob. 3DQCh. 13 - Prob. 1PCh. 13 - Prob. 2PCh. 13 - Prob. 3PCh. 13 - Prob. 4PCh. 13 - Prob. 5PCh. 13 - Prob. 6PCh. 13 - Prob. 7PCh. 13 - Prob. 8PCh. 13 - Prob. 9PCh. 13 - Prob. 10PCh. 13 - Prob. 1LTLCh. 13 - Prob. 2LTLCh. 13 - Prob. 3LTLCh. 13 - Prob. 4LTL
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Describe what a typical star in the Galaxy would be like compared to the Sun.arrow_forwardDescribe how you might use the color of a galaxy to determine something about what kinds of stars it contains.arrow_forwardThe center of a faint but active galaxy has magnitude 26. How much less bright does it look than the very faintest star that our eyes can see, roughly magnitude 6?arrow_forward
- Assume that the Sun orbits the center of the Galaxy at a speed of 220 km/s and a distance of 26,000 lightyears from the center. A. Calculate the circumference of the Sun’s orbit, assuming it to be approximately circular. (Remember that the circumference of a circle is given by 2pR, where R is the radius of the circle. Be sure to use consistent units. The conversion from light-years to km/s can be found in an online calculator or appendix, or you can calculate it for yourself: the speed of light is 300,000 km/s, and you can determine the number of seconds in a year.) B. Calculate the Sun’s period, the “galactic year.” Again, be careful with the units. Does it agree with the number we gave above?arrow_forwardWhy does the disk of a spiral galaxy appear dark when viewed edge on?arrow_forwardWhen comparing two isolated spiral galaxies that have the same apparent brightness, but rotate at different rates, what can you say about their relative luminosity?arrow_forward
- Consider the following data on four stars: Which star would have the largest radius? Which star would have the smallest radius? Which star is the most common in our area of the Galaxy? Which star is the least common?arrow_forwardConsider the following five kinds of objects: open cluster, giant molecular cloud, globular cluster, group of O and B stars, and planetary nebulae. A. Which occur only in spiral arms? B. Which occur only in the parts of the Galaxy other than the spiral arms? C. Which are thought to be very young? D. Which are thought to be very old? E. Which have the hottest stars?arrow_forwardOne way to calculate the size and shape of the Galaxy is to estimate the distances to faint stars just from their observed apparent brightnesses and to note the distance at which stars are no longer observable. The first astronomers to try this experiment did not know that starlight is dimmed by interstellar dust. Their estimates of the size of the Galaxy were much too small. Explain why.arrow_forward
- The surface mass density of the disk of a galaxy is given in the provided image. Σ0 is the central surface density and Rd is the scale-length, and they are both constant. Find the total mass (M) of the disk in terms of Σ0 and Rd.arrow_forwardLooking for ___Mpcarrow_forwardIf a galaxy contains a supernova that at its brightest has an apparent magnitude of +12, how far away is the galaxy? Assume that the absolute magnitude of the supernova is -17. Hint: Use the magnitude-distance formula: d = 10(mV − MV + 5)/5 .arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStax
Stars and GalaxiesPhysicsISBN:9781305120785Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Stars and Galaxies
Physics
ISBN:9781305120785
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning