As planets with a wide variety of properties are being discovered outside our so

Question

As planets with a wide variety of properties are being discovered outside our solar system, astrobiologists are considering whether and how life could evolve on planets that might be very different from earth One recently discovered extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, orbits a star whose mass is 0.70 times the mass of our sun This planet has been found to have 2.3 times the earth's diameter and 7.9 times the earth's mass For planets in this size range, computer models indicate a relationship between the planet's density and composition: Observations of this planet over time show that it is in a nearly circular orbit around its star and completes one orbit in only 9.5 days How many times the orbital radius r of the earth around our sun is this exoplanet's orbital radius around its sun? Assume that the earth is also in a nearly circular orbit

Explanation / Answer

Here,

mass of star , M1 = 0.7 * ms

let the radius of orbit of star is r

radius of orbit of earth is R

accroding to Kepler's law

T^2*M/(R^3) = constant

9.5^2 * 0.7 * ms/r^3 = 365^2 * ms/(R^3)

sovling for r

1/r^3 = 2108/R^3

1/r = 12.82/R

r = R/12.82 = 0.078 * R

the orbital radius of planet is 0.078 * R

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.