The radius of the earth’s orbit around the sun (assumed to be circular) is 1.50 * 108 km, and the earth travels around this orbit in 365 days. (a) What is the magnitude of the orbital velocity of the earth, in m/s? (b) What is the magnitude of the radial acceleration of the earth toward the sun, in m/s2 ? (c) Repeat parts (a) and (b) for the motion of the planet Mercury (orbit radius = 5.79 * 107 km, orbital period = 88.0 days).

The radius of the earth’s orbit around the sun (assumed to be circular) is 1.50 * 108 km, and the earth travels around this orbit in 365 days. (a) What is the magnitude of the orbital velocity of the earth, in m/s? (b) What is the magnitude of the radial acceleration of the earth toward the sun, in m/s2 ? (c) Repeat parts (a) and (b) for the motion of the planet Mercury (orbit radius = 5.79 * 107 km, orbital period = 88.0 days).