Newton's version of Kepler's third law states According to this, what observational information does one need in order to calculate the combined mass of a planet and its moon?
A)the orbital period and the density of the two objects
B)the radius of the two planets in meters and the average distance between them
C)the average distance between the two objects and the orbital period
D)It is impossible to determine the mass of any astronomical object.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Newton's version of Kepler's third law, the combined mass of a planet and its moon can be determined with the knowledge of the average distance between the two objects and their orbital period. Density and radius are not necessary for this calculation. Therefore, option C is the correct choice. Option A may be helpful in calculating individual masses, but not the combined mass. Option B is irrelevant and option D is incorrect.

Newton's Version of Kepler's Third Law States According to This