Universe
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781319039448
Author: Robert Geller, Roger Freedman, William J. Kaufmann
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
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Chapter 22, Problem 37Q
To determine
To explain: The evidence of the presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, and also explain the possibility to determine the mass of that black hole.
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Chapter 22 Solutions
Universe
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- What are the two best ways to measure the distance to a nearby spiral galaxy, and how would it be measured?arrow_forwardThe best evidence for a black hole at the center of the Galaxy also comes from the application of Kepler’s third law. Suppose a star at a distance of 20 light-hours from the center of the Galaxy has an orbital speed of 6200 km/s. How much mass must be located inside its orbit?arrow_forwardWhat are the two best ways to measure the distance to a distant, isolated spiral galaxy, and how would it be measured?arrow_forward
- Once again in this chapter, we see the use of Kepler’s third law to estimate the mass of supermassive black holes. In the case of NGC 4261, this chapter supplied the result of the calculation of the mass of the black hole in NGC 4261. In order to get this answer, astronomers had to measure the velocity of particles in the ring of dust and gas that surrounds the black hole. How high were these velocities? Turn Kepler’s third law around and use the information given in this chapter about the galaxy NGC 4261-the mass of the black hole at its center and the diameter of the surrounding ring of dust and gas-to calculate how long it would take a dust particle in the ring to complete a single orbit around the black hole. Assume that the only force acting on the dust particle is the gravitational force exerted by the black hole. Calculate the velocity of the dust particle in km/s.arrow_forwardSuppose somebody proposed that rather than invoking dark matter to explain the increased orbital velocities of stars beyond the Sun’s orbit, the problem could be solved by assuming that the Milky Way’s central black hole was much more massive. Does simply increasing the assumed mass of the Milky Way’s central supermassive black hole correctly resolve the issue of unexpectedly high orbital velocities in the Galaxy? Why or why not?arrow_forwardHow are distant (young) galaxies different from the galaxies that we see in the universe today?arrow_forward
- Which is likely to be more common in our Galaxy: white dwarfs or black holes? Why?arrow_forwardExplain where in a spiral galaxy you would expect to find globular clusters, molecular clouds, and atomic hydrogen.arrow_forwardWhen comparing two isolated spiral galaxies that have the same apparent brightness, but rotate at different rates, what can you say about their relative luminosity?arrow_forward
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