Question

Place the following in order from largest to smallest semimajor axis:

a. a planet with a period of 84 Earth days
b. a planet with a period of 1 Earth year
c. a planet with a period of 2 Earth years
d. a planet with a period of 0.5 Earth years

Answer 1

The planets in order from largest to smallest semimajor axis are: Planet c (2 Earth years), Planet b (1 Earth year), Planet d (0.5 Earth years), Planet a (84 Earth days).

Step-by-step explanation:

In order from largest to smallest semimajor axis, the planets can be arranged as follows:

1. Planet c with a period of 2 Earth years
2. Planet b with a period of 1 Earth year
3. Planet d with a period of 0.5 Earth years
4. Planet a with a period of 84 Earth days

To determine the order, we consider that the semimajor axis of a planet's orbit is directly proportional to its period of revolution around the Sun. Since the semimajor axis determines the average distance from the planet to the Sun, a larger semimajor axis corresponds to a greater distance from the Sun.

Hence, the planet with the longest period (2 Earth years) will have the largest semimajor axis, and the planet with the shortest period (84 Earth days) will have the smallest semimajor axis.