Why is Newton's version of Kepler's third law so useful to astronomers?
A) It can be used to determine the masses of many distant objects.
B) It allows us to calculate distances to distant objects.
C) It tells us that more-distant planets orbit the Sun more slowly.
D) It explains why objects spin faster when they shrink in size.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Newton's version of Kepler's third law relates the orbital period and distance of a planet to the mass of the central star. This makes it very useful for determining the masses of planets, moons, asteroids, and other objects in our solar system and beyond, based on their orbital periods and distances.

Why Is Newton's Version of Kepler's Third Law So Useful