Question

Suppose that scientists discover an asteroid that is 2.0 AU from the sun. If 1 AU - 150 million km, how long would the asteroid's orbital period be in Earth years?

Answer 1

Answer:

P = 5.2 × 10^12 years

Explanation: Given that the size of asteroid = 2.0 AU from the sun.

Since 1 AU - 150 million km,

Size of the asteroid = 300 million km

it is expressed in astronomical units (1 AU equals the average distance between the Earth and Sun)

The period (P) is measured in years, using Kepler's Third Law

P^2 = R^3

Where

P is in Earth years, and R is in AU

P^2 = (300 million)^3

P^2 = 2.7 × 10^25

P = 5.2 × 10^12 years

The asteroid's orbital period in Earth years is 5.2 × 10^12