In-class question

Kepler's 3rd law says T^2/R^3 is constant for all the planets. The period T for the earth is 1 year(!) The distance of the earth to the sun is called 1 A.U. Suppose an asteroid is in circular orbit around the sun at a distance of 2 A.U. How long does it take the asteroid to orbit the sun once?

BLUE: Not enough information (An asteroid is not a planet - can't figure it out from Kepler's third law.)

YELLOW: 2 years

PINK: 3 years

PURPLE: 2^(3/2) = 2.83 years

GREEN: 2^(2/3) = 1.59 years

 




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