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Old 03-09-2010, 05:57 PM
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sjastro
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigS View Post
Ok. So does this mean that if one were to change the model to another shape (eg: an ellipse) and whilst the mass/light ratio calculation would er ... 'get ugly', the apparent non-flat rotation curves feature might get explained, for those galaxies exhibiting this feature ?

Does that make sense ?

Cheers
The mass to light ratio is only an average value. For flat curves this average is accurate where ever the curve is flat. For non flat curves you can measure the mass to light ratio in different areas of the rotation curve above a particular value of r.

Probably the flatter the curve the more even distribution of DM.

Regards

Steven
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