Centripetal acceleration of Earth around Sun

AI Thread Summary
The centripetal acceleration of Earth in its circular orbit around the Sun is calculated using the formula a = (v^2) / r, where the orbital radius is approximately 1.5e11 m. The orbital period is determined to be about 3.1536e7 seconds, leading to a calculated orbital velocity of 29885.8 m/s. Substituting this velocity into the centripetal acceleration formula yields an acceleration of approximately 0.005954 m/s^2. An alternative calculation using gravitational force also provides a similar result of about 0.0058987 m/s^2, confirming the initial calculation's accuracy. Both methods validate the centripetal acceleration of Earth around the Sun.
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Problem:
The Earth's orbit (assumed circular) around the sun is 1.5e11 m in radius, and it makes this orbit once a year. What is the centripetal acceleration of the earth?

Equations:
a = (v^2) / r
T = (2*pi*r) / v

My work:
T = (2*pi*r) / v;

1 year = (365 days / 1 year)*(24 hours / 1 day)*(60 mins / 1 day)*(60 secs / 1 min) = 3.1536e7 s;

3.1536e7 s = (2*pi*1.5e11 m) / v;
algebraically rearranged is: v = (2*pi*1.5e11 m) / (3.1536e7 s)
v = 29885.8 m/s

a = (v^2) / r;

a = ((29885.8 m/s)^2) / (1.5e11 m);
a = 0.005954 m/s^2 MY ANSWER

My question is if this is correct? I've been bombarded with tough questions up until this one and I am curious to know if I solved this correctly. It 'seemed' too easy. Confirmation on the answer would be appreciated since I can't find any information on presumed circular rotation around the sun. Thank you.
 
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Looks OK to me.
 
I haven't plugged the numbers in but your working is correct.
 
The answer looks right. An alternative way of solving this question (to check your answer) would be to just ask what is the centripetal acceleration of Earth around the sun, given the sun's gravitation force at our distance.

acceleration=G*m1/r(2)

G=gravitational constant=6.67E-11 m(3)kg(-1)s(-2)
m1=mass of sun (1.00 E30) kg
r=distance to the sun = 1.5E11 m

Ie. acceleration = 6.67E-11 m(3)kg(-1)s(-2) * (1.00 E30) m / [ (1.5E11 m) * (1.5E11 m)]

Answer = 5.8987E-03 ms(-2)

My mass of distance were approximations, but the answer is very close indeed.
 
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