A planet has an average distance to the sun of 0.66 AU. In two or more complete sentences, explain how to calculate the orbital period of the planet and calculate it.

Question

Madisyn

Biology

27 December, 12:32

A planet has an average distance to the sun of 0.66 AU. In two or more complete sentences, explain how to calculate the orbital period of the planet and calculate it.

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Darrell Hatfield · Answer 1

We can use the formula for orbital time period:

T² = (4π²/GM) a³; where T is in Earth years, a is distance from sun in AU, M is the solar mass (1 for the sun), G is the gravitational constant.

In the given units, 4π²/G = 1

T² = 0.66³

T = 0.536 Earth years = 195.71 Earth days