Question

Astronomers have observed a small, massive object at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. A ring of material orbits this massive object; the ring has a diameter of about 18 light-years and an orbital speed of about 180 km/s. answers

Answer 1

Answer:

The mass of the massive object at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is $3.44\times10^{37}\ Kg$

Explanation:

Given that,

Diameter = 10 light year

Orbital speed = 180 km/s

Suppose determine the mass of the massive object at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

Take the distance of one light year to be 9.461×10¹⁵ m. I was able to get this it is 4.26×10³⁷ kg.

We need to calculate the radius of the orbit

Using formula of radius

$r=\dfrac{d}{2}$

$r=\dfrac{15\times9.461\times10^{15}}{2}$

$r=7.09\times10^{16}\ m$

We need to calculate the mass of the massive object at the center of the Milky Way galaxy

Using formula of mass

$M=\dfrac{v^2r}{G}$

Put the value into the formula

$M=\dfrac{(180\times10^3)^2\times7.09\times10^{16}}{6.67\times10^{-11}}$

$M=3.44\times10^{37}\ Kg$

Hence, The mass of the massive object at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is $3.44\times10^{37}\ Kg$