Problem 12.3

Please wait for the animation to completely load.

Two planets orbit a star (red), whose mass is M = 7 x 10²⁵ kg as shown in the animation (position is given in 10⁶ km and time is given in Earth years).   Restart.

1. What is the net force on the central star?  Write an expression, not a numerical answer.
2. What is the net force on each planet?  Write an expression, not a numerical answer.
3. Determine the mass of the orbiting planets.

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