Consider a star moving with velocity in a circular orbit of radius R about the centre

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Consider a star moving with velocity υ in a circular orbit of radius R about the centre of a spiral galaxy. Calculate the dependence of υ on R for the following extreme cases.

(a) The total mass of the galaxy, like the luminous mass, is concentrated almost entirely at the centre of the galaxy.

(b) The mass of the galaxy is distributed almost entirely in a spherical halo of dark matter, assumed to be of constant density and radius Rh > R.

Compare your results with the observation that υ is almost independent of R for stars observed in the outer arms of spiral galaxies.

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Particle Physics

ISBN: 978-1118912164

4th Edition

Authors: Brian R. Martin, Graham Shaw

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