Madeline Horn edited section_Finding_Mass_of_the__.tex  over 8 years ago

Commit id: ab136746fe09dd20118beeca55133f027db246e1

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Mass = (V_{orb}^2 \cdot r) / G  \end{equation}  where G is the known gravitational constant ($6.674 \cdot 10^−11 \textrm{ N m^2 / kg^2}$), $V_{orb}^2$ is the orbital velocity, and r is the semi-major axis that can be found because spiral galaxies are circular. distance from Earth to the galaxy.  In order to find $V_{orb}$, by using basic geometry, the equation is as follows: