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Astronomy 101 Problem Set #7 |  |
This Problem Set is due by 1:00 pm on Thursday, 27 October
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Astronomy 101 Problem Set #7 | |
This Problem Set is due by 1:00 pm on Thursday, 27 October
Problem #1: Bianca is a moon of Uranus. Bianca has a circular orbit whose radius is 5.92 x 104 km, and its orbital period is 0.435 days.
a) Calculate Bianca's speed in its orbit around Uranus.
b) From this information, calculate the mass of Uranus.
Problem #2: Mercury's iron core occupies 40% of the volume of the planet, but accounts for 60% of its total mass. Using the mass and radius of Mercury in the back of your textbook, calculate the average density of the other part of Mercury, that is, the rocky outer layers.
Problem #3: The maximum elongation of Venus (that's the largest angular separation between Venus and the Sun, viewed from Earth) is 46 degrees.
a) Draw a diagram indicating the position of the Sun and Earth, the orbit of Venus, and its location when it appears at its maximum elongation.
b) From this diagram (and the knowledge that the Earth-Sun distance is 1 A.U.), calculate the radius of Venus' circular orbit.
