What is the orbital period of a comet nucleus at the inner edge of the Oort Cloud? What is its orbital velocity? Assume a circular orbit. (Hint: Use Kepler’s third law, Eq. 4-1) (Note: The circumference of a circle is 2πr.)
The orbital period and orbital velocity of comet nucleus in the Oort Cloud.
Answer to Problem 14P
The orbital period of the comet nucleus in the Oort Cloud is from
Explanation of Solution
The expression for the orbital period of comet nucleus in the Oort Cloud using Kepler’s law is,
Here,
The expression for the orbital velocity of comet nucleus in the Oort Cloud is,
Here,
Conclusion:
For
Substitute
Substitute
For
Substitute
Substitute
Therefore. the orbital period of the comet nucleus in the Oort Cloud is from
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Foundations of Astronomy, Enhanced
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