Mathematics in astronomy

Astronomy
Astronomy is the study of the
sun, moon , stars, planets,
Astronomy is the study of the sun, moon, stars,
comets, gas, galaxies,
planets, comets, gas, galaxies,gas, dust
gas, dust and
other non-Earthly bodies and
and other non-Earthly bodies and phenomena

phenomena
Math is used in astronomy to calculate routes
for satellites, rockets and space probes. In
addition, math is used in the global positioning
system, for transmitting messages when data is
compressed, and for coding the images and
element modeling to build spacecraft
 As a modern example, astronauts use math to direct a space
shuttle that moves at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour to a space
station for a rendezvous. Complex mathematical calculations must be
performed so that the two objects moving at high speed can meet at
one point without causing damage to each other.

Modern mathematical tools such as error analysis and the

maximum principle help optimize trajectories of spacecraft.
let the symbol ⨁ indicate the Earth.
let the symbol ʘ or ⨀ or indicate the Sun.
let the symbol 𝐼⨀ indicate the total solar irradiance.
let the symbol 𝐿𝑉 indicate the solar visible luminosity.
let the symbol 𝐿⨀ indicate the solar bolometric luminosity.
let the symbol 𝐿𝑏𝑜𝑙 indicate the solar bolometric luminosity.
let the symbol 𝑀𝑏𝑜𝑙 represent the bolometric magnitude, the total
energy output.
let the symbol 𝑀𝑉 represent the visual magnitude.
let the symbol 𝑀⨀ indicate the solar mass.
let the symbol 𝑄⨀ represent the net solar charge.
let the symbol 𝑅⨁ indicate the Earth's radius.
let the symbol 𝑅𝐽 indicate the radius of Jupiter.
let the symbol 𝑅⨀ indicate the solar radius.
 geometry is used in astronomy to determine the
properties of stars and other objects in space. It is
developed to be a practical guide in measuring the
velocity, area, volume and length of heavenly bodies.
Astronomy is the study of these objects, and geometry
assists in figuring out their scope and placement in the
firmament
 Trigonometry is used to measure the
distance to stars in the solar system, and
the motion of nearby stars compared to
more distant stars. The method of
measuring distance in space is called
trigonometric parallax
Kepler's third law - shows the relationship between the period of an objects orbit and the
average distance that it is from the thing it orbits. This can be used (in its general form)
for anything naturally orbiting around any other thing.

Formula: P2=ka3 where:

P = period of the orbit, measured in units of time
a = average distance of the object, measured in units of distance
k = constant, which has various values depending upon what the situation is, who P and a
are measured.

This is the general form of the formula, so obviously you need at least two of the
quantities to find the third. "k" is the trickiest thing since it depends upon the objects
that are involved and how you measure "P" and "a".

Since "P" can be measured in any unit of time (seconds, days, years, etc), and "a" can
be measured in any unit of distance (meters, km, AU), the value of "k" can be quite
diverse from one system to another.
1. An object is orbiting around the star Gumby with a period of 80
years. If "k" = 2 (units of years and AU) in this system, what is the
average distance of the object orbiting around Gumby in AUs?
Solution: You're trying to get "a" so you need to re-arrange the
formula:
P2 = k a3
a3 = P2 / k
a3 = (80)2/2 = 3200
Now take the cube root of both sides
a = (3200)1/3 = 15 AU
Newton's Second Law of Motion =
Force Law - This is the law that defines what force is.

Formula: F = ma where:
F = force
m = mass
a = acceleration

Note - mass doesn't mean "weight". It is the measure of how

much material is in an object. And acceleration doesn't just
mean "go faster", but denotes an change in motion, including
deceleration and change in direction. So if you want to
change the way something is moving, you have to exert a
force on it.
Typical problems :
(related to Newton's second law)

1. You have two cars stuck in the snow. One car (the blue one) has a mass
that is 3 times greater than the other (the red one). You push them both
with the same force, since you have only so much strength. How do their
accelerations compare?

Solution: Look at the formula -

F = ma
In this case F doesn't change for the two situations, but m does and as a result
so must "a". Think of it like a balancing act - but in this case the value of "ma"
has to balance for both cars. So you have ma for the red car and ma for the
blue car. And they have to be equal one another (since you are exerting the
same force on both of them). Therefore
ma = ma
But m is 3 times greater than m
So a must be 3 times greater than a for both sides to balance.
Or you could think of it this way - with size representing differences ma = ma
Typical problems :
(related to Newton's second law)

1. Two asteroids with the same mass are moving through

space. Asteroid Beatles is accelerating 6 times more than
asteroid Stones. Both will hit the Moon. Which will have a
greater force of impact and how much greater will it be?
Solution: Look at the formula -
F = ma
Since "m" is the same for both object, we only need to
look at "a". It is 6 times greater for the Beatles, so the
force that exerted by it is 6 times greater than the force
exerted by asteroid Stones. That's all there is to it.
Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation –
The most important law in the Universe. This one you really have to
know and know how it is changed by different circumstances. And
like the previous law, we won't be plugging in actual values in
general, only when it is vital to a problem, which isn't very often.

Formula: F = G M1M2/R2 where:

F = force of gravity
M1,M2 = masses of the objects involved
R = distance between their centers of mass (usually just their
centers)
G = a constant.
The force of gravity (F) depends upon the two masses involved (M1
and M2) and their separation (R). Note that the "R" is squared -
people tend to forget that. Gravity is an attractive force, meaning
that it pulls things together, so you can think of "F" as the amount
of pull something has on another object.
Typical problems:
(related to Newton’s universal law of gravitation)

1. If you are on the surface of the Earth what does the force of
gravity depend upon in that situation?
Solution: Look at the formula -
F = G M1M2/R2
In this case there are two objects involved, you and the Earth. So one
of the masses is your mass and the other is the mass of the Earth.
What is R? That is the distance between the objects, in this case the
distance from your center to the center of the Earth. For the most
part the distance to your center doesn't matter much especially
when compared to the size of the Earth. So the formula can be
rewritten as
F = G MyouMEarth/REarth2