Question

Earth travels in an approximately circular orbit around the sun. The average radius of Earth's orbit around the sun is 9.3 times 10 Superscript 7 miles. Earth takes one year, or 365 days, to complete one orbit.

a. Use the formula for the circumference of the circle to determine the distance, Upper L, the Earth travels in one year. Express your answers in scientific notation.
L=a * 10^n
b. how many hours, H are in one year?
c. Speed is distance divided by time. Find the orbital speed, v, of Earth in miles per hour.
v= ? miles per hour

Answer 1

a. L is the circumference of the orbit
L = 2piR
where pi = 3.1416
L = 2(3.1416) ( 9.3x10^7 miles)
L = 5.8 x10^8 miles

b. hours in a year = 365 days ( 24 hrs / 1 day)
hours in a year = 8760 hr

c. velocity = L/t
v = 5.8 x10^8 miles / 8760 hr
v = 6.7 x10^4 miles per hour