Question

saturn is an average distance of 1.4×109 km from the sun. estimate the length of the saturnian year using the fact that the earth is 1.50×108km from the sun on the average.

Answer 1

Answer:

Kepler's third law:

P^2 = K R^3  the period squared is proportional to the cube of the radius

Ps^2 = K Rs^3

Pe^2 = K Re^3

Ps^2 / Pe^2 = Rs^3 / Re^3        dividing equations

Ps = (Rs / Re)^3/2 * Pe

Ps = (1.4E9 / 1.5E8)3/2 * 1 yr

Ps = 28.5 yrs

(Actual = 10759 da / 365.25 da = 29.5)