# Finding Angular Displacement

1. Jun 26, 2013

### Bashyboy

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120411050123AA0ar9P

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution[/b
Only I have one question concerning the answer that "E" provides in the link: why do periods cancel out?

2. Jun 26, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Are you referring to this section of the solution?:

(θ_x)(T_x) = (θ_y)(T_y) = (θ_y)(T_x / √27)

The periods cancel, so

(θ_x) = (θ_y) / √27​

The center expression, "(θ_y)(T_y)", is just an intermediate step, and "(T_y)" is then replaced by "(T_x / √27)" to yield the relationship

(θ_x)(T_x) = (θ_y)(T_x / √27)

T_x occurs on both sides of the equality and can be cancelled algebraically.

3. Jun 26, 2013

### Bashyboy

Actually, there is something before that, that I don't quite understand. Why are we allowed to set up this proportion (I never really understood proportions, so perhaps you could help me understand):

$\frac{r_x^3}{T_x^2} = \frac{r_y^3}{T_y^2}$?

4. Jun 26, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

That's an application of Kepler's Third Law: for all planets, the square of the period is proportional to the cube of the orbit radius, or $T^2 \propto r^3$.

5. Jun 26, 2013

### Bashyboy

Well, what confuses me is, how is the left-side of the equation equal to the right-side?

6. Jun 26, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Write the two proportionalities as equalities by introducing a constant of proportionality:

$r_x^3 = k T_x^2$

$r_y^3 = k T_y^2$

Now rearrange:

$\frac{r_x^3}{T_x^2} = k$

$\frac{r_y^3}{T_y^2} = k$

Both fractions equal k, so set them equal to each other.

7. Jun 26, 2013

### Bashyboy

So, both fractions always equal the same constant, no matter which pair of planets are being considred? Why is that so?

8. Jun 26, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Kepler found the relationship empirically, hence his third law.

When Newton came along and developed his theory of gravity, he proved Kepler's relationship using it and his other laws.

Last edited: Jun 26, 2013
9. Jun 26, 2013

### Bashyboy

Okay, so there several proofs of this fact. Thank you for indicating that.

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