The asteroid belt circles the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. One asteroid has a period of 5.0earth years. What are the asteroid’s orbital radius and speed?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The asteroid’s orbital radius is4.365×1011mand its speed is1.74×104m/s.

Step by step solution

01

Given information

The asteroid belt circles the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. One asteroid has a period of 5earth years.

02

Calculation

The radius can be calculated using the time period and it is given by :

T=2πRvR=Tv2πR=(1.5768s×108s)v2πR=(2.5×107)v______(1)

Sun's gravitational attraction provides the asteroid's centripetal force and it is given by :

GMsMaR2=Ma×v2Rv2=G×MsR______(2)

03

Continuation of calculation

Substituting the value of R in equation (2) we get,

v2=G×Ms2.5×107vv3=G×Ms2.5×107v3=(6.67×10-11Nm2/kg2)(1.989×1030kg)2.5×107v3=5.287×1012m3/s3v=1.74×104m/s

Substituting the value of 'v' in equation (1) we get,

R=(2.5×107s)(1.74×104m/s)R=4.365×1011m

04

Final answer

The asteroid’s orbital radius is 1.74×104m/sand its speed is4.365×1011m.

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