If the Large Magellanic Cloud is orbiting the Milky Way in a circular orbit with a speed of 175 km/s and a distance of 50 kpc from the center, how long would it take for the Large Magellanic Cloud to complete one orbit around the Milky Way?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the equation for the period of circular orbits, T= 2πr/v, where r is the distance from the center and v is the speed, we get:

T = 2π(50 kpc)/(175 km/s) = 2π(50000 pc)/(175 km/s) = 571,616, or approximately 2 billion years. Therefore, the correct answer is choice B.

If the Large Magellanic Cloud Is Orbiting the Milky Way