Essential Cosmic Perspective
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780135795033
Author: Bennett
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 2, Problem 15EAP
What do we mean by the apparent retrograde motion of the planets? Why was it difficult for ancient astronomers to explain but easy for us to explain?
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Let's use Kepler's laws for the inner planets. Use the following distances from the sun to calculate the orbital period for each of these planets. Express your answer in terms of Earth years to two significant figures. Answer for the highlighted planet in each question.
Note: Use Kepler's law directly. Don't just Google the answers, as they will be a little bit different.
When you have calculated them, only submit the value for Earth.
Planet
Distance from the sun
Period of orbit around the sun
Earth
150 million km
___ Earth years
Mercury
58 million km
___ Earth years
Venus
108 million km
___ Earth years
Mars
228 million km
___ Earth years
Use Kuiper Belt Object Haumea's eccentricity; e = 0.189, semimajor axis, a = 43.3
AU, and Period, P = 285 yrs, values to
a) calculate its perihelion and aphelion distances with Dp = a (1 e) and D₂ = a (1 + e),
b) verify if Haumea's a and P satisfy Kepler's third law for all objects orbiting the Sun:
p2 = a³.
Show your work.
Paragraph
Lato (Recom...
a) Dp=
Da=
V
b) p2=
BI
19px... v
U A
L
EQ
58°
...
Kepler's 1st law says that our Solar System's planets orbit in ellipses around the Sun where the closest distance to the Sun is called perihelion.
Suppose I tell you that there is a planet with a perihelion distance of 2 AU and a semi-major axis of 1.5 AU.
Does this make physical sense? Explain why or why not.
Chapter 2 Solutions
Essential Cosmic Perspective
Ch. 2 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 2 - Which of the four labeled points represents the...Ch. 2 - Which of the four labeled points represents the...Ch. 2 - The diagram exaggerates the sizes of Earth and the...Ch. 2 - Given that Earths actual distance from the Sun...Ch. 2 - As viewed from Earth, in which zodiac...Ch. 2 - If the date is April 21, what zodiac constellation...Ch. 2 - If the date is April 21, what zodiac constellation...Ch. 2 - Prob. 1EAPCh. 2 - Suppose you were making a model of the celestial...
Ch. 2 - On a clear, dark night, the sky may appear to be...Ch. 2 - Why does the local sky look like a dome? Define...Ch. 2 - Prob. 5EAPCh. 2 - What are circumpolar stars? Are more stars...Ch. 2 - What are latitude and longitude? Does the local...Ch. 2 - What is the zodiac, and why do we see different...Ch. 2 - Suppose Earth’s axis had no tilt. Would we still...Ch. 2 - Briefly describe key facts about the solstices and...Ch. 2 - What is precession? How does it affect our view of...Ch. 2 - Briefly describe the Moons cycle of phases. Can...Ch. 2 - Why do we always see the same face of the Moon?Ch. 2 - Why don’t we see an eclipse at every new and full...Ch. 2 - What do we mean by the apparent retrograde motion...Ch. 2 - Prob. 16EAPCh. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Prob. 18EAPCh. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Prob. 20EAPCh. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Prob. 23EAPCh. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 2 - Two stars that are in the same constellation (a)...Ch. 2 - The north celestial pole is 35° above your...Ch. 2 - Beijing and Philadelphia have about the same...Ch. 2 - In winter, Earth’s axis points toward the star...Ch. 2 - When it is summer in Australia, the season in the...Ch. 2 - If the Sun rises precisely due east. (a) you must...Ch. 2 - A week after full moon, the Moon’s phase is (a)...Ch. 2 - The fact that we always see the same face of the...Ch. 2 - If there is going to be a total lunar eclipse...Ch. 2 - When we see Saturn going through a period of...Ch. 2 - Cultural Constellations. Many cultures have...Ch. 2 - Group Discussion: Sharing the Sky. Astronomers...Ch. 2 - Prob. 39EAPCh. 2 - These questions may be answered individually in...Ch. 2 - These questions may be answered individually in...Ch. 2 - These questions may be answered individually in...Ch. 2 - These questions may be answered individually in...Ch. 2 - New Planet. A planet in another solar system has a...Ch. 2 - Your View of the Sky. a. What are your latitude...Ch. 2 - View from the Moon. Suppose you lived on the Moon,...Ch. 2 - View from the Sun. Suppose you lived on the Sun...Ch. 2 - Farther Moon. Suppose the distance to the Moon...Ch. 2 - Smaller Earth. Suppose Earth were smaller. Would...Ch. 2 - Project: Eclipse Trip. Find details about a future...Ch. 2 - Be sure to show all calculations clearly and state...Ch. 2 - Find the Sun’s Diameter. The Sun has an angular...Ch. 2 - Prob. 54EAPCh. 2 - Prob. 55EAP
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Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- How Do We Know? Why is it important that a theory make testable predictions?arrow_forwardDraw a picture that explains why Venus goes through phases the way the Moon does, according to the heliocentric cosmology. Does Jupiter also go through phases as seen from Earth? Why?arrow_forwardLet's use Kepler's laws for the inner planets. Use the following distances from the sun to calculate the orbital period for each of these planets. Express your answer in terms of Earth years to two significant figures. Note: Use Kepler's law directly. Don't just Google the answers, as they will be a little bit different. When you have calculated them, only submit the value for Mercury. Planet Distance from the sun Period of orbit around the sun Earth 150 million km ___ Earth years Mercury 58 million km ___ Earth years Venus 108 million km ___ Earth years Mars 228 million km ___ Earth yearsarrow_forward
- How long (in Earth-Years) does it take Saturn to orbit the Sun? Use these values of (average) distance to the Sun. Venus: .72 A.U. Saturn: 9.5 A.U. Give your answer in (Earth) years to the correct number of significant figures.arrow_forwardroblem B.2: Distance of the Planets The table below lists the average distance R to the Sun and orbital period T of the first planets: Distance Orbital Period Mercury 0.39 AU 88 days Venus 0.72 AU 225 days Earth 1.00 AU 365 days Mars 1.52 AU 687 days (a) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Mars to the Earth. Which one of these planets is the closest to Earth on average? (b) Calculate the average distance of Mercury, Venus and Earth to Mars. Which one of these planets is the closest to Mars on average? (c) What do you expect for the other planets? Hint: Assume circular orbits and use symmetries to make the distance calculation easier. You can approximate the average distance by using four well-chosen points on the planet's orbit.arrow_forwardShow your complete and detailed solution. Round off your answers to 4 decimal digits and box your final answers.arrow_forward
- Mars is 1.5 times as far away from the Sun as Earth. Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5o compared to the ecliptic. The axis of Mars is tilted at 25o compared to the ecliptic. The atmosphere on Earth is 100 times as thick as the atmosphere on Mars. Which of the following statements is true? 1.)Mars is so cold that the water there is ice, while Earth does not have any ice 2.)When it is summer in Earth’s northern hemisphere, it is winter on Mars’ southern hemisphere 3.) Earth has seasons, Mars does not 4.) All of the water on Mars is frozen, while Earth has water in solid, liquid and gas formarrow_forwardThe table below presents the semi-major axis (a) and Actual orbital period for all of the major planets in the solar system. Cube for each planet the semi-major axis in Astronomical Units. Then take the square root of this number to get the Calculated orbital period of each planet. Fill in the final row of data for each planet. Table of Data for Kepler’s Third Law: Table of Data for Kepler’s Third Law: Planet aau = Semi-Major Axis (AU) Actual Planet Calculated Planet Period (Yr) Period (Yr) __________ ______________________ ___________ ________________ Mercury 0.39 0.24 Venus 0.72 0.62 Earth 1.00 1.00 Mars 1.52 1.88 Jupiter…arrow_forwardWhat is an epicycle? How is it important in Ptolemy's explanation of the retrograde motions of the planets?.arrow_forward
- Explain the tidal hypothesis.arrow_forwardDirection: Use your knowledge about solving equations to work out to complete the table below. Show your solution with proper units. R° (meters) T R° / T° { (meters) / Planet Average Times of Radius of Revolution (seconds) (seconds) } Planet's Orbit (Planet's year) R T (seconds) (meters) Mercury 5.7869 x 10:0 7.605 x 10 Venus 1.081 x 101 1.941 x 107 Earth 1.4996 x 10" 3.156 x 10 Mars 2.280 x 101 5.936 x 10 Jupiter 7.783 x 10" 3.743 x 10 Saturn 1.426 x 10 9.296 x 10arrow_forwardThe Mars Robotic Lander for which we are making these calculations is designed to return samples of rock from Mars after a long time of collecting samples, exploring the area around the landing site, and making chemical analyses of rocks and dust in the landing area. One synodic period is required for Earth to be in the same place relative to mars as when it landed. Calculate the synodic period (in years) using the following formula: 1/Psyn = (1/PEarth) - (1/PMars) where PEarth is the sidereal period of the Earth (1 year) and PMars is the sidereal period of Mars. If 3/4 of a Martian year was spent collecting samples and exploring the terrain around the landing site, calculate how long the Mars Robotic Lander expedition took!arrow_forward
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