How Long Does It Take an Asteroid to Orbit the Sun Compared to Earth?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the orbital period of an asteroid in relation to Earth's orbital period around the Sun, utilizing Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the application of Kepler's laws, particularly the relationship between the distances of the orbits and their periods. Questions arise regarding the reasoning behind initial estimates and the calculations involved.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing calculations and others seeking clarification on the application of Kepler's laws. There is a mix of interpretations and attempts to derive the asteroid's period, indicating a productive exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

There are repeated references to the distances and periods of both the asteroid and Earth, with some participants questioning the assumptions made in their calculations. The discussion reflects a collaborative effort to understand the relationships defined by Kepler's laws.

Brittykitty
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An asteroid is orbiting around the sun at a distance of 4.2x 1011 m. If the Earth orbits around the Sun at a distance of 1.5 x 1011 m with a period of 3.2 x107 s, what is the period of the asteroid?

Im thinking it was 9.0 x 10^7 s ?
 
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Do you have a reason for thinking that?
Is it the same reason that Kepler had?
 


use kepler's laws. R^3/T^2 is always constant when orbiting the same parent body.
 


Hello,

So it would be (1.5x10^11) ^3 / (3.2 x10^7) ?
 


Hello,

So it would be (1.5x10^11) ^3 / (3.2 x10^7) ?
 


An asteroid is orbiting around the sun at a distance of 4.2x 1011 m. If the Earth orbits around the Sun at a distance of 1.5 x 1011 m with a period of 3.2 x107 s, what is the period of the asteroid?

Im thinking it was 9.0 x 10^7 s ?

(4.2x10^11)^3/(t^2) = (1.5x10^11)^3/(3.2x10^7)^2

I'm looking at 1.5x10^8 sec.
 


Ooo I get it now! wow, thank you soo much :):):) I don't know how I didn't see that from the beginning
 

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