Earth moves in an elliptical orbit with the sun at one of the foci. The length of half of the major axis is 149,598,000 kilometers, and the eccentricity is 0.0167. Find the minimum distance (perihelion) and the maximum distance (aphelion) of Earth from the sun.

Question

Kyra Booth

Physics

5 November, 06:53

Earth moves in an elliptical orbit with the sun at one of the foci. The length of half of the major axis is 149,598,000 kilometers, and the eccentricity is 0.0167. Find the minimum distance (perihelion) and the maximum distance (aphelion) of Earth from the sun.

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Answers (1)

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Martha Rangel · Answer 1

147,099,713.4 km

152,096,286.6 km

Explanation:

a = 149598000 km

e = 0.0167

The formula to find the perihelion

Rp = a (1 - e) = 149598000 (1 - 0.0167) = 147,099,713.4 km

The formula for aphelion

Ra = a (1 + e) = 149598000 (1 + 0.0167) = 152,096,286.6 km