Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 13 - Newton's Theory of Gravity - Exercises and Problems - Page 373: 19

Answer

$1600\;\rm Earth\;days $

Work Step by Step

We are told that the orbit radius of planet Y around the star Omega is 4 times that of X. $$R_Y=4R_X\tag 1$$ We know, from Kepler's laws, that the periodic time of a circular orbit is given by $$T^2=\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2 }{GM}\right) R^3$$ where $M$ is the mass of the star. Hence, $$T_X^2=\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2 }{GM_{O}}\right) R_X^3$$ and $$T_Y^2=\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2 }{GM_{O}}\right) R_Y^3$$ Finding $T_Y^2/T_X^2$ $$\dfrac{T_Y^2}{T_X^2}=\dfrac{\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2 }{GM_{O}}\right) R_Y^3}{\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2 }{GM_{O}}\right) R_X^3}=\dfrac{R_Y^3}{R_X^3}$$ Hence, $$ T_Y^2 = \dfrac{R_Y^3T_X^2}{R_X^3}$$ Plugging from (1); $$ T_Y^2 = \dfrac{(4R_X)^3 T_X^2}{R_X^3}= \dfrac{64 \color{red}{\bf\not}R_X^3T_X^2}{ \color{red}{\bf\not}R_X^3}$$ $$ T_Y =\sqrt{64T_X^2} =8T_X $$ Plugging the known; $$ T_Y =8(200\;\rm Earth\;days)$$ $$T_Y=\color{red}{\bf 1600}\;\rm Earth\;days $$ Therefore, the year of planet Y is 1600 Earth days.
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