Calculating Earth's Distance from the Sun in One Year

In summary, to find the number of miles the Earth travels in a year, we need to know the distance from the Earth to the sun, which is equivalent to the given radius of 92500000 miles. Using the formula for circumference, we can calculate the distance and determine the number of miles the Earth travels in a year.
  • #1
Miike012
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Homework Statement


Assuming that the Earth describes in one year a circle, of 92500000 mile radius, whose center is the sun, how many miles does the Earth travel in a year?




The Attempt at a Solution



How does knowing the radius of the Earth help me with this problem? I don't need the radius of the Earth I need to know the distance from the Earth to the sun which will be the radius... then I can solve it...
Is this correct?
 
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  • #2
Miike012 said:

Homework Statement


Assuming that the Earth describes in one year a circle, of 92500000 mile radius, whose center is the sun, how many miles does the Earth travel in a year?

If I'm reading this correctly, for the sake of this problem, 92500000 miles is the distance between the sun and the earth. The Earth travels around the sun in a circular orbit, so 92500000 miles is the radius. How do you think we obtain the number of miles the Earth travels around the sun in a year?
 
  • #3
Miike012 said:

The Attempt at a Solution



How does knowing the radius of the Earth help me with this problem? I don't need the radius of the Earth I need to know the distance from the Earth to the sun which will be the radius... then I can solve it...
Is this correct?

That radius is not the radius of the Earth. The orbit is circular, so that radius is the distance from the Earth to the Sun. So you just need to find the distance using the radius.
 
  • #4
So based on the description, same formula as for a circle. You know the formula for circumference? Just note that the orbit of the Earth to the Sun might in fact be more like an ellipse.
 
  • #5
The wording just through me off... I was thinking that the distance 92500000 was the dis. from Earth to sun, even though I read it as the radius of the earth..
 

1. How is the distance between Earth and the Sun calculated?

The distance between Earth and the Sun is calculated using a method called parallax. This involves measuring the angle between two different locations on Earth when viewing the Sun at the same time. By using trigonometry and the known distance between the two locations, the distance to the Sun can be calculated.

2. What is the average distance between Earth and the Sun?

The average distance between Earth and the Sun is approximately 149.6 million kilometers (93 million miles). This is also known as 1 astronomical unit (AU), which is used as a unit of measurement for distances in our solar system.

3. How long does it take for the Earth to travel around the Sun?

It takes Earth approximately 365.24 days to travel around the Sun in one year. This is also known as the Earth's orbital period. The exact number of days can vary slightly due to the Earth's elliptical orbit.

4. Why is the distance between Earth and the Sun important?

The distance between Earth and the Sun is important for many reasons. It determines the amount of sunlight and heat that reaches Earth, which is crucial for supporting life on our planet. It also affects the length of our days and seasons, and plays a role in our planet's climate and weather patterns.

5. How has technology improved our ability to calculate the Earth's distance from the Sun?

Advancements in technology, such as satellites and telescopes, have greatly improved our ability to accurately calculate the Earth's distance from the Sun. These tools allow us to measure the parallax effect more precisely and gather more data for calculations. Additionally, space probes and missions have provided us with more detailed information about our solar system and its distances.

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