Question

1. If a comet takes 950 years to orbit the sun its average distance from the sun will approximately be?

2.Which of the following positions does a superior planet NOT go through?

Group of answer choices

Opposition

Greatest elongation

Conjunction

Quadrature

Answer 1

A comet's average distance from the sun can be calculated using Kepler's third law of planetary motion. In this case, if a comet takes 950 years to orbit the sun, its average distance from the sun will be approximately 13.69 astronomical units. A superior planet does not go through the position of Quadrature; it goes through Opposition, Greatest elongation, and Conjunction.

Step-by-step explanation:

A comet's average distance from the sun can be calculated using Kepler's third law of planetary motion, which states that the square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its average distance from the sun. In this case, the comet takes 950 years to orbit the sun. Therefore, we can set up the equation as follows:

T^2 = k * R^3

Where T is the orbital period in years, R is the average distance from the sun (in astronomical units), and k is a constant.

Substituting the values, we get:

(950)^2 = k * R^3

Simplifying the equation, we find that the average distance from the sun is approximately 13.69 astronomical units.

Regarding the positions a superior planet goes through, it does not go through the position of Quadrature. The positions a superior planet goes through are Opposition, Greatest elongation, and Conjunction.

Answer 2

Using Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, the average distance of a comet that takes 950 years to orbit the Sun is approximately 95 AU. A superior planet does not go through Greatest Elongation, as this term applies only to interior planets like Mercury and Venus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Calculating the Average Distance of a Comet from the Sun

To calculate the average distance of a comet from the Sun given its orbital period, we use Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion. This law states that the square of the period of a planet (or comet) is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit (average distance from the Sun). The formula is:

P² = a³

where P is the orbital period in Earth years and a is the semi-major axis in astronomical units (AU). In this case, we have P = 950 years.

By rearranging the formula to solve for 'a', we get:

a³ = P²

a = √(P²)

Now, by substituting P with 950, we find:

a = √(950²) = √(902500) ≈ 95 AU

So, the average distance from the Sun to the comet is approximately 95 AU.