Suppose our sun had 4 times its present mass but the earth orbited it at the same distance as it presently does.What would be the length of the year on the earth under those conditions?
A)1/4 as long as the present year
B)1/2 as long as the present year
C)the same as the present year
D)twice as long as the present year
E)four times as long as the present year

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Kepler's third law, the square of the orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit divided by the mass of the sun. If the sun's mass is quadrupled, the orbital period would be reduced by a factor of √4, which is 2, making the year half as long.

Suppose Our Sun Had 4 Times Its Present Mass but the Earth