According to Kepler's third law, calculate the orbital period of a planet approximately 6.0 AU away from the Sun.
A) ˜ 6 years
B) ˜ 15 years
C) ˜ 30 years
D) ˜ 36 years
E) ˜ 214 years

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kepler's third law states that the square of the orbital period (T) is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis (a) of its orbit: T^2 ∝ a^3. For a planet 6.0 AU from the Sun, T^2 = 6^3 = 216, so T ≈ √216 ≈ 14.7 years, which is approximately 15 years.

According to Kepler's Third Law, Calculate the Orbital Period of a Planet