Compute rper and rap for the orbit of Planet X, which has eccentricity e = $a, and semi-major axis from the table below.
Planet | Mercury | Venus | Earth | Planet X |
---|---|---|---|---|
a (1010 m) | 5.79 | 10.8 | 15.0 | $b |
T (years) | 0.241 | 0.615 | 1.00 | 1.88 |
Recall how rper and rap are related to the semimajor axis, a, and the eccentricity, e.
rper = a(1 − e)
rap = a(1 + e)
Find the length of the semimajor axis of the orbit of Planet X, a, from the table.
a = iSba6t70dtA= × 1010
Substitute appropriately the values of a and e to find rper, the shortest distance, and rap, the longest distance. (Round the decimal value to four decimal places.)
rper = $b × 1010(1 9DxysKU6P+4= $a) = U2GIbglD1oM= × 1011 km
rper = $b × 1010(1 brSjF5lOKMQ= $a) = or6dmYWrEbA= × 1011 km