Our Sun rotates about the center of our Galaxy (mG≈4×1041kg) at a distance of about 3×104 light-years
Question
[1ly=(3.00×108m/s)⋅(3.16×107s/yr)⋅(1.00yr)].
What is the period of the Sun’s orbital motion about the center of the Galaxy?
Express your answer using one significant figure.
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Answer ( 1 )
For the orbital period (in seconds), the expression is –
T = 2*pi*sqrt(r^3/GM)
Where G = gravitational constant and M = Central mass
Now 1 ly = (speed of light in m/s) times (1 year in seconds)
= (3 x 10^8) (3.15 x 10^7) = (3 x 3.15) x 10^(8+7) = 9.45 x 10^15 metres
therefore, our orbit of 3 x 10^4 ly is a distance of (3 x 10^4)(9.45 x 10^15) = 28.35 x 10^19
= 2.835 x 10^20 m
Again value of Gravitational constant, G = 6.67 × 10^(-11)
And the mass of the galaxy, M = 4 x 10^41 kg
Now put the values –
T = 2*pi*sqrt(r^3/GM) = (2)(3.14)SqRoot((2.835 x 10^20)^3 / (6.67 × 10^(-11) x 4 x 10^41))
solving this we get –
T = 2*3.14*SQRT(0.854 x 10^30)
= 6.28 x (0.854)^(1/2) x 10^(15)
= 5.8 x 10^15 seconds
Answer in one significant figure –
T = 6.0 x 10^15 sec.