Distance Orbital Period Mercury 0.39 AU 88 days Venus 0.72 AU 225 days Earth 1.00 AU 365 days Mars 1.52 AU 687 days (a) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Mars to the Earth. Which one of these planets is the closest to Earth on average? (b) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Earth to Mars. Which one of these planets is the closest to Mars on average? (c) What do you expect for the other planets? Hint: Assume circular orbits and use symmetries to make the distance calculation easier. You can approximate the average distance by using four well-chosen points on the planet’s orbit.
Distance Orbital Period Mercury 0.39 AU 88 days Venus 0.72 AU 225 days Earth 1.00 AU 365 days Mars 1.52 AU 687 days (a) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Mars to the Earth. Which one of these planets is the closest to Earth on average? (b) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Earth to Mars. Which one of these planets is the closest to Mars on average? (c) What do you expect for the other planets? Hint: Assume circular orbits and use symmetries to make the distance calculation easier. You can approximate the average distance by using four well-chosen points on the planet’s orbit.
Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Chapter21: The Birth Of Stars And The Discovery Of Planets Outside The Solar System
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 24E: Kepler’s third law says that the orbital period (in years) is proportional to the square root of the...
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Distance Orbital Period Mercury 0.39 AU 88 days Venus 0.72 AU 225 days Earth 1.00 AU 365 days Mars 1.52 AU 687 days (a) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Mars to the Earth. Which one of these planets is the closest to Earth on average? (b) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Earth to Mars. Which one of these planets is the closest to Mars on average? (c) What do you expect for the other planets? Hint: Assume circular orbits and use symmetries to make the distance calculation easier. You can approximate the average distance by using four well-chosen points on the planet’s orbit.
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