Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 13 - Gravitation - Problems - Page 382: 49a

Answer

$a = 1.9\times 10^{13}~m$

Work Step by Step

We can assume that the period of the comet is $~~1994-574~~$ which is $~~1420~years$ We can use Kepler's third law to find the semi-major axis $a$: $a^3 = T^2$ $a = \sqrt[3] {T^2}$ $a = \sqrt[3] {(1420)^2}$ $a = 126.3~AU$ $a = (126.3~AU)(1.5\times 10^{11}~m/AU)$ $a = 1.9\times 10^{13}~m$
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