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The semi-major axis of an orbit is calculated as the average distance between the center of the orbit and the farthest point of the orbit. It can be found by taking the average of the closest and farthest distances from the center of the orbit.

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6mo ago

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How can we calculate the eccentricity e of a planet's orbit?

The eccentricity of a planet's orbit can be calculated using the formula e c/a, where c is the distance between the center of the orbit and the focus, and a is the length of the semi-major axis of the orbit.


How can we calculate the mass of an object in orbit by using the period and radius of its orbit?

To calculate the mass of an object in orbit, we can use the period and radius of its orbit by applying Newton's version of Kepler's third law. This formula states that the square of the period of an orbit is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of the orbit. By rearranging this formula and plugging in the known values of the period and radius, we can solve for the mass of the object.


How can one determine the period of orbit for a celestial body?

To determine the period of orbit for a celestial body, one can use Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, which states that the square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. By measuring the semi-major axis of the orbit and the gravitational force acting on the celestial body, one can calculate the period of its orbit.


How can one determine the semi-major axis of an orbit?

To determine the semi-major axis of an orbit, you can measure the distance between the center of the orbit and one of its furthest points. This distance is half of the longest diameter of the elliptical orbit and is known as the semi-major axis.


How can one calculate the orbital period using the semi-major axis?

To calculate the orbital period using the semi-major axis, you can use Kepler's third law of planetary motion. The formula is T2 (42 / G(M1 M2)) a3, where T is the orbital period in seconds, G is the gravitational constant, M1 and M2 are the masses of the two objects in the orbit, and a is the semi-major axis of the orbit. Simply plug in the values for G, M1, M2, and a to find the orbital period.

Related Questions

If a semimajor axis is 2.77au what is period of Ceres years?

Using Kepler's third law, the period (P) of an object in orbit can be calculated using the formula P^2 = a^3, where a is the semimajor axis in astronomical units (au). For Ceres with a semimajor axis of 2.77 au, the period of its orbit around the Sun is approximately 4.61 years.


What is the significance of the semimajor axis of planets in understanding their orbits and distances from the sun?

The semimajor axis of a planet's orbit is important because it determines the size and shape of the orbit, as well as the distance of the planet from the sun. It helps us understand the planet's position in relation to the sun and other planets, and provides valuable information about the planet's orbital characteristics.


How does the period revolution relate to semimajor axis?

The period revolution of an orbiting body is directly related to its semimajor axis through Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion. This law states that the square of the orbital period (T) of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis (a) of its orbit, expressed mathematically as T² ∝ a³. This means that as the semimajor axis increases, the orbital period increases as well, indicating that objects further from a central body take longer to complete an orbit.


How do Keplers 3 laws of motion combined with the parts of an ellipse explain the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the sun based on its length?

One of the parts of an ellipse is the length of its major axis. Half that is called the semimajor axis. Kepler's 3rd law says that the time to do one orbit is proportional to the 3/2 power of the semimajor axis. IF the semimajor axis is one astronomical unit the period is one year (the Earth). For a planet with a semimajor axis of 4 AUs the period would have to be 8 years, by Kepler-3.


How do Kepler's 3 laws of motion combined with the parts of an ellipse explain the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the sun based on its length?

One of the parts of an ellipse is the length of its major axis. Half that is called the semimajor axis. Kepler's 3rd law says that the time to do one orbit is proportional to the 3/2 power of the semimajor axis. IF the semimajor axis is one astronomical unit the period is one year (the Earth). For a planet with a semimajor axis of 4 AUs the period would have to be 8 years, by Kepler-3.


What planet has the smallest orbit how did you arrive at your answer?

Mercury has the smallest orbit. The semimajor axis of Mercury's orbit is about 58 million kilometers, which is the smallest of all of the planets.


Why does mercury orbit the sun first?

(I'm going to assume that when you said "first" you meant "fastest," because otherwise the question is nonsense.) Because of Kepler's Third Law. The orbital period for a body is related to the semimajor axis of its orbit. Mercury's orbit has the shortest semimajor axis of all the Solar planets, and therefore it has the shortest orbital period.


What is the semimajor axis of Mercury's orbit around the Sun?

Oh, an interesting question! Mercury's semimajor axis - which is the distance from the center of the Sun to the farthest point of Mercury's orbit - is about 0.39 astronomical units, or around 57.9 million kilometers. That's a nice and cozy space for our little Mercury to dance gracefully around the warm Sun. Nature has a way of creating beauty in all the details like this, doesn't it?


What is a semimajor axis of an ellipse?

The major axis is the diameter across the widest part. The semimajor axis is half that, and for a planet it's the average of the maximum and minimum distances from the Sun .


Which orbit in Keplers law would have the longest period?

An orbit with a large semimajor axis will have the longest period according to Kepler's third law. This means that an orbit with the greatest average distance from the central body will have the longest period.


What is the semimajor axis of a circle of diameter 24 cm?

The major and minor axes of a circle are the same - either is any diameter. So a semimajor axis is half the diameter which is 12 cm.


The period of revolution is related to?

the period of revolution is related to the semimajor axis.... :)