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Astronomy 3 Spring 2015
Problem Set #1Due Wednesday Feb 18
Please explain your reasoning and show your work on each problem.
1. Suppose the Earths mass is twice as large as it is, but is at the same distancefrom the Sun. How would this affect its orbital period around the Sun?
2. Mars orbit has a semi-major axis of 1.5 AU. From Keplers third law, calculateMars period using ratios.
3. Explain why Keplers second law implies that a planet moves on its orbit non-uniformly. That is, it moves faster in some parts of its orbit and slower inothers.
4. Astronauts in orbit around the Earth are weightless. Why are they then notmassless?
5. Imagine that you are in a rocket ship far from any celestial object so there isno gravity and the rocket ship is accelerating in the forward direction. Thefloor of the rocket ship is perpendicular to the direction of motion. Imaginefurther that there is a scale on the floor of the rocket ship. If youre standingon the scale, would it show that you had weight or not? Explain.
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