Question

Radius Orbital Period Formula for Universal Gravitational Constant

A) Use numerical methods for integration.
B) Employ the inverse square law.
C) Apply the gravitational force equation.
D) Solve a system of linear equations.

Answer 1

Kepler's third law relates the orbital period of a planet to its mean distance from the Sun. This can be calculated and compared to the period of actual planets in the solar system.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kepler's third law states that the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the square root of the cube of its mean distance from the Sun. This can be expressed as P² = a³, where P is the orbital period in years and a is the mean distance from the Sun in AU (astronomical units). To calculate the expected Keplerian period for mean distances from 0.1 to 32 AU, you can use this formula. For each planet in the solar system, you can look up the mean distance from the Sun in AU and the orbital period in years, and plot these data points on a curve to compare with the expected Keplerian period.