Summary: ASTR 3730: Astrophysics 1 ­ Problem Set #4
Due in class Friday 31st
October
1) A simple model of a star has mass M, radius R, and density given as a function
of radius by (as in the previous problem):

r(r) = rc 1-
r
R
È
ÎÍ

°.
If the central pressure in the star is Pc, and the pressure at r = R is P = 0, integrate
the equation of hydrostatic equilibrium to find an expression for the pressure as
a function of radius [you will need to use the expression for m(r) derived last
time in the hydrostatic equilibrium equation].
2) The radial velocities of two stars in an eclipsing binary system are measured to
have the following variation with time:
Calculate the masses of the two stars.

Source: Armitage, Phil - Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder

Collections: Physics