The largest mass is 4.7 x 10³⁰ kg and the smallest mass is 5 x 10²⁹ kg.
The given parameters;
- distance between the two black holes, r = 10 AU = 1.5 x 10¹² m
- gravitational force between the two black holes, F = 6.9 x 10²⁵ N.
- combined mass of the two black holes = 5.20 x 10³⁰ kg
The product of the two masses is calculated from Newton's law of universal gravitational as follows;
[tex]F = \frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2} \\\\m_1m_2 = \frac{Fr^2}{G} \\\\m_1m_2 = \frac{(6.9\times 10^{25}) \times (1.5\times 10^{12})^2}{6.67\times 10^{-11}} \\\\m_1m_2 = 2.328 \times 10^{60} \ kg^2[/tex]
The sum of the two masses is given as;
m₁ + m₂ = 5.2 x 10³⁰ kg
m₂ = 5.2 x 10³⁰ kg - m₁
The first mass is calculated as follows;
m₁(5.2 x 10³⁰ - m₁) = 2.328 x 10⁶⁰
5.2 x 10³⁰m₁ - m₁² = 2.328 x 10⁶⁰
m₁² - 5.2 x 10³⁰m₁ + 2.328 x 10⁶⁰ = 0
solve the quadratic equation using formula method;
a = 1, b =- 5.2 x 10³⁰, c = 2.328 x 10⁶⁰
[tex]m_1 = \frac{-b \ \ +/- \ \ \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac} }{2a} \\\\m_1 = \frac{-(-5.2\times 10^{20}) \ \ +/- \ \ \sqrt{(-5.2\times 10^{20})^2 - 4(1\times 2.328\times 10^{60})} }{2(1)} \\\\m_1 = 4.7 \times 10^{30} \ kg \ \ or \ \ 4.9 \times 10^{29} \ kg[/tex]
The second mass is calculated as follows;
m₂ = 5.2 x 10³⁰ kg - m₁
m₂ = 5.2 x 10³⁰ kg - 4.7 x 10³⁰ kg
m₂ = 5 x 10²⁹ kg
or
m₂ = 5.2 x 10³⁰ kg - 4.9 x 10²⁹ kg
m₂ = 4.7 x 10³⁰ kg
Thus, the largest mass is 4.7 x 10³⁰ kg and the smallest mass is 5 x 10²⁹ kg.
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