Which one of these properties is NOT needed to determine individual masses in a binary star system?
A) the distance to the binary system
B) the plane of the orbit of the two stars
C) the relative sizes of the orbits of the two stars
D) the absolute magnitude of at least one star

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the individual masses in a binary star system, the distance to the system (A), the plane of the orbit (B), and the relative sizes of the orbits (C) are crucial for applying Kepler's laws and the mass function. The absolute magnitude of at least one star (D) is not directly needed for mass determination; it is more related to the luminosity and physical properties of the star rather than its mass.

Which One of These Properties Is NOT Needed to Determine