Question

a) A Kuiper Belt Object orbits the Sun with an average orbital distance of 40 AU. What is its orbital period? Round your answer to the nearest integer.

Answer 1

Answer:

253 years

Explanation:

a = Distance in Astronomical units from the sun = 40 AU

P = Orbital period in years

From Kepler's law we have

$P^2=a^3$

$\Rightarrow P^2=40^3$

$\Rightarrow P^2=64000$

$\Rightarrow P=\sqrt{64000}$

$\Rightarrow P=252.982212813$

$\Rightarrow P\approx 253\ years$

The orbital period of the Kuiper belt object is 253 years.