- #1
^_^physicist
- 235
- 1
Homework Statement
The observed period of the binary system Cygnus X-1, presumed to be a bright star and a black hole, is equal to 5.6 days. If the mass of the visable (the star) is 20*Mass of the Sun, and the black hole has a mass 16*Mass of the Sun, show taht the semimajor axis of the orbit of the black hole relative to the visable star is roughly 1/5 the distance from the Earth to the sun.
Homework Equations
Period (using AU) relationship to semimajor axis of a system
T = [m,sub 1 + m, sub 2]^(-1/2)*a^3/2, where 'a' is the semi-major axis and both values of 'm' are given in units of mass of the sun.
Reduced mass: (m,sub 1)*(m,sub 2)/((m, sub 1)+(m, sub 2))
Postion vector of particle 1 relative to particle 2
R= (r(from center of mass), sub 1)*(1+ ratio of masses)
The Attempt at a Solution
I am not entirly sure where to go with this, however, I did calculate some values so far:
u= 8.888*Mass of Sun
a= .020384 AU, note that the value of this semi-major axis is for the binary system as a whole, not relative to either one of the points.
Any ideas where to go with all of this?
(I am still working at it, but a hint would be nice)