For any object orbiting the Sun,Kepler's law may be written T² = kr³.If T is measured in years and r in units of the Earth's distance from the Sun,then k = 1.What,therefore,is the time (in years)for Mars to orbit the Sun if its mean radius from the Sun is 1.5 times the Earth's distance from the Sun? A)1.8 years B)2.8 years C)3.4 years D)4.2 years

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kepler's third law states that the square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. In this case, the semi-major axis is 1.5 times the Earth's distance from the Sun, so the orbital period of Mars is 1.5^1.5 = 1.8 years.

For Any Object Orbiting the Sun,Kepler's Law May Be Written