The solar system is 25,000 light years from the center of our Milky Way galaxy. One light year is the distance light travels in one year at a speed of 3.0×108m/s. Astronomers have determined that the solar system is orbiting the center of the galaxy at a speed of 230 km/s. The approximate mass of the galactic center was calculated to be 1.88*1041 kg. Assume that the sun is a typical star with a typical mass. If galactic matter is made up of stars, approximately how many stars are in the center of the galaxy? Note : Astronomers have spent many years trying to determine how many stars there are in the Milky Way. The number of stars seems to be only about 10% of what you'll find in part d. In other words, about 90% of the mass of the galaxy appears to be in some form other than stars. This is called the dark matter of the universe. No one knows what the dark matter is. This is one of the outstanding scientific questions of our day.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
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Author:Katz, Debora M.
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Chapter7: Gravity
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Problem 3PQ: For many years, astronomer Percival Lowell searched for a Planet X that might explain some of the...
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The solar system is 25,000 light years from the center of our Milky Way galaxy. One light year is the distance light travels in one year at a speed of 3.0×108m/s. Astronomers have determined that the solar system is orbiting the center of the galaxy at a speed of 230 km/s.

The approximate mass of the galactic center was calculated to be 1.88*1041 kg.

Assume that the sun is a typical star with a typical mass. If galactic matter is made up of stars, approximately how many stars are in the center of the galaxy?

Note : Astronomers have spent many years trying to determine how many stars there are in the Milky Way. The number of stars seems to be only about 10% of what you'll find in part d. In other words, about 90% of the mass of the galaxy appears to be in some form other than stars. This is called the dark matter of the universe. No one knows what the dark matter is. This is one of the outstanding scientific questions of our day.

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