Final answer:
To find the approximate diameter of the planet Neptune, we can use the concept of the horizon circle. The distance between the satellite and the horizon circle is 2,992 km. By using the formula for the circumference of a circle and the radius of Neptune, we can calculate the diameter of the planet.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the approximate diameter of the planet Neptune, we can use the concept of the horizon circle. The horizon circle is the portion of the planet that can be seen from the satellite orbiting around Neptune. The distance between the satellite and the horizon circle (H) is given as 2,992 km.
We can use the fact that the satellite is orbiting at a distance of 180 km to determine the radius of Neptune. From this information, we can calculate the diameter of the planet.
Let's use the formula for the circumference of a circle: C = 2πr, where C is the circumference and r is the radius. The circumference of the horizon circle is given as H = 2,992 km. To find the radius, we divide H by 2π: r = H / (2π).
Plugging in the value of H, we can calculate the radius of Neptune: r = (2,992 km) / (2π).
Once we have the radius, we can calculate the diameter using the formula: diameter = 2 × radius. This will give us the approximate diameter of Neptune.