Question

The planet Mercury takes 0.24 sidereal years to go around the sun. What is the distance from the center of Mercury to the center of the sun

Answer 1

Answer:

5.77×10¹⁰ m

Explanation:

From the question,

Applying

Kepler's third law

P² = d³...................... Equation 1

Where P = Planet's period, d = distance between the center of the planet and the sun.

make d the subject of the formula n equation 1

d = $\sqrt[3]{P^{2} }$.................. Equation 2

Given: P = 0.24 sidereal.

Substitute the value of P into equation 2

d = $\sqrt[3]{0.24^{2} }$

d = 0.386 Au

d = 0.386×1.496×10¹¹

d = 5.77×10¹⁰ m