Surface temperature of a planet revolving a sun

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the surface temperature of a small planet in a circular orbit around the sun, assuming both bodies are black bodies. The problem involves concepts from thermodynamics and gravitational physics, particularly focusing on energy absorption and emission.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the power emitted by the sun and the energy absorbed by the planet. There are attempts to equate energy gain and loss, with some participants suggesting the need to calculate the power incident on the planet based on its cross-sectional area and distance from the sun.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on calculating the power incident on the planet and emphasized the importance of equilibrium between absorbed and emitted energy. Multiple interpretations of the orbital radius and its relevance to the problem are being discussed, indicating an ongoing exploration of the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the radius of the planet and its impact on the calculations. Participants have noted discrepancies in the expressions for orbital radius and have questioned the relevance of certain variables in the context of the problem.

AdityaDev
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Homework Statement



Find the surface temperature of a small planet having circular orbit around the sun with time period T,assuming sun and planet to be black bodies. Take radius of sun = R, its mass = M and its surface temperature as ##\theta_0##.

Homework Equations



##P=eA\sigma T^4##
Total energy of planet is ##\frac{GMm}{2R}##
##I=\frac{P}{4\pi d^2}##

The Attempt at a Solution


Power emitted by sun is ##P=eA\sigma\theta^4_0##.
The energy of planet is the sum of its kinetic and potential enegies (E) + the energy received from sun.
From these relations, I am not able to find the planet's surface temperature.
Since the planet is also a black body, the energy absorbed by planet = the energy imcident on the planet. I can find the energy it received during one complete revolution.
But I am not able to get any usefull relation.
 
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You do not need to know the energy during one revolution. The energy loss rate needs to equal the energy gain from absorbing sunlight.
 
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AdityaDev said:

Homework Statement



Find the surface temperature of a small planet having circular orbit around the sun with time period T,assuming sun and planet to be black bodies. Take radius of sun = R, its mass = M and its surface temperature as ##\theta_0##.

Homework Equations



##P=eA\sigma T^4##
Total energy of planet is ##\frac{GMm}{2R}##
##I=\frac{P}{4\pi d^2}##

The Attempt at a Solution


Power emitted by sun is ##P=eA\sigma\theta^4_0##.
The energy of planet is the sum of its kinetic and potential enegies (E) + the energy received from sun.
From these relations, I am not able to find the planet's surface temperature.
Since the planet is also a black body, the energy absorbed by planet = the energy imcident on the planet. I can find the energy it received during one complete revolution.
But I am not able to get any usefull relation.

You need to calculate the power incident on the planet from the sun. This can be approximated by the ratio of the cross sectional area presented to the sun (pi*r_planet^2) divided by the total area (solid angle) 4*pi*r_orbit^2 times the power output by the sun (assumes isotropic radiation). At equilibrium, the power deposited into the planet from the sunlight must be equal to the power radiated by the planet to space. This can be used to calculate the black body temperature for the planet. So, to figure all of this out, you need to find out what the orbital radius is.
 
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Quantum Defect said:
You need to calculate the power incident on the planet from the sun. This can be approximated by the ratio of the cross sectional area presented to the sun (pi*r_planet^2) divided by the total area (solid angle) 4*pi*r_orbit^2 times the power output by the sun (assumes isotropic radiation). At equilibrium, the power deposited into the planet from the sunlight must be equal to the power radiated by the planet to space. This can be used to calculate the black body temperature for the planet. So, to figure all of this out, you need to find out what the orbital radius is.
To find radius of orbit:
##T=\frac{2\pi R_0}{v}##
And ##v=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}##
So ##T=2\pi R_0\sqrt{\frac{R}{GM}}##
So ##R_0=\frac{T}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}##
But radius of planet is not given.
 
Assume a radius r and see what comes out. Do not enter a value for it.

Edit: Also, v is irrelevant.
 
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sorry, the value of Radius of orbit is wrong in post 4.
Its ##R_0^{3/2}=\frac{T}{2\pi}(GM)^{1/2}##
The power received by planet is ##P=\pi r^2\frac{P}{4\pi R_0^2}##
Now P emitted=##4\pi r^2\sigma\theta^4##
So the r^^2 terms goes out and i got the correct answer.
 

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