Question

Problem 1: Imagine a planet whose distance to the sun varies, in the course of its orbital motion, between 1.38 AU and 1.67 AU. What is the semimajor axis of this planet’s orbit?

Select One of the Following: (a) 3.05 AU (b) 1.53 AU (c) 1.38 AU (d) 1.67 AU

Problem 2: What is the eccentricity of this planet’s orbit?

Select One of the Following: (a) 0.065 (b) 0.075 (c) 0.085 (d) 0.095

Problem 3: How long does it take for this planet to orbit the sun, in Earth-years?

Select One of the Following: (a) 5.33 yr (b) 1.89 yr (c) 1.62 yr (d) 2.16 yr

Problem 4: How much faster is this planet moving at perihelion than at aphelion?

Select One of the Following: (a) 1.41 times faster (b) 1.31 times faster (c) 1.21 times faster (d) 1.11 times faster

Problem 5: Suppose you try to spin a space station to get an artificial gravity going. Let us say the radius of the space station is 50 m (about half a football field). How fast would it have to spin, in revolutions per second, in order to get the equivalent of the earth’s gravity at the rim (that is to say, an acceleration equal to g)?

Select One of the Following: (a) 0.07 revolutions per second (b) 0.08 revolutions per second (c) 0.09 revolutions per second (d) 0.1 revolutions per second

Answer 1

1)

Perihelion distance  

Aphelion distance

Semi major axis

Answer is

2)

Eccentricity

Answer is

3)

Time taken for the orbit to revolve around sun is

Answer is

4)

Velocity at perihelion

Velocity at aphelion

Answer is   times faster

5)

Acceleration of space station  

Answer is