Binary Inclination

We are going to run Binary Maker again varying the binary inclination. This is the angle at which the orbital plane of the binary makes to our line of sight. i = 0 degrees if the orbital plane is in the plane of the sky; = 90 degrees if the orbit is edge on. See Figure ?? in the article ?? which you will find in your course pack.

If you are still at the screen from the previous exercise, enter Esc and enter N for all values asked.

Go to Run menu and choose Light Curves.

You will be presented with a bunch of parameters for you to vary if you so wish. For now please type Enter for each parameter until you get to the Observer Location screen (after the binary picture).

For the inclination type 85 and Enter for the other two boxes.

You should now see another animation of our binary system with the light curve and radial velocity curve. Again, note down the intensity at which the bottom of the minima reach.

Repeat the above exercise for a binary inclination of 80 and 75 degrees.

Question: What happens to the light curve when you decrease the inclination?

Go to next page - Exercise 3