Question

Suppose that a comet has a very eccentric orbit that brings it quite close to the Sun at closest approach (perihelion) and beyond Mars when furthest from the Sun (aphelion), but with an average distance (semi-major axis) of 1 AU. How long will it take to complete an orbit and where will it spend most of its time

Answer 1

Answer:

16.63min

Explanation:

The question is about the period of the comet in its orbit.

To find the period you can use one of the Kepler's law:

$T^2=\frac{4\pi}{GM}r^3$

T: period

G: Cavendish constant = 6.67*10^-11 Nm^2 kg^2

r: average distance = 1UA = 1.5*10^11m

M: mass of the sun = 1.99*10^30 kg

By replacing you obtain:

$T=\sqrt{\frac{4\pi}{GM}r^3}=\sqrt{\frac{4\pi^2}{(6.67*10^{-11}Nm^2/kg^2)(1.99*10^{30}kg)}(1.496*10^8m)^3}\\\\T=997.9s\approx16.63min$

the comet takes around 16.63min