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The moon has an orbital period of 63.3 days. Calculate the average distance from the earth​

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Answer:

2 pi R / T = speed of moon

m V^2 / R = G M m / R^2 centripetal force = gravitational force

V^2 / R = G M / R^2

4 pi^2 R^2 / (T^2 R) = G M / R^2 using first equation

R^3 = 1 / (4 pi^2) * G M T^2 we need to know G and M

R^3 = .0253 * 6.67E-11 * 5.98E24 T^2 = 1.01E13 * T^2

63.3 da = 5.47E6 sec

T^2 = 2.99E13 sec^2

R^3 = 1.01E13 * 2.99E13 = 3.02E26 = 302E24 m^3

R = 6.70E8 m from center of earth

Using 1609 m/mile

R = 416,000 miles

Note: our moon is about 239,00 miles away

So this distance is about 1.74 our earth-moon distance

If T^2 proportional R^3 (the moon period is 27.3 da)

63.3/27.3 = 2.32 2.32^2 = 5.38

416/239 = 1.74 1.74^3 = 5.27

Not exact but reasonably close

User Raj Verma
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