You Repeatedly Measure the Radial Velocity of What Seems to Be

question 47

Essay

You repeatedly measure the radial velocity of what seems to be a single main-sequence star like the Sun, but find that it is in fact orbiting in a tight orbit around another object that remains unseen. From measurement of the velocity and orbital period, you calculate that the unseen object has a mass 20 times that of the Sun-like star. Why might this object be a black hole?

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Definitions:

Wireless Internet Access Points

Devices that allow wireless-equipped computers and other devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards.

Videoconferences

Meetings conducted over video communication platforms, allowing participants in different locations to see and hear each other.

Installed

Refers to software or applications that have been set up and made ready for use on a computer or system.

Backup

The process of making a copy of data stored on a computer or server to protect against data loss.