A binary star consists of two stars A and B that orbit one another, as illustrated in the figure below.
The stars are in circular orbits with the centres of both orbits at point P, a distance from the centre of star A.
Explain why the centripetal force acting on both stars has the same magnitude.
The separation of the centres of the stars is . The mass of star A is
. The mass of star B is
. The ratio
is
. Determine the distance
.