An asteroid has a perihelion distance of 3.36 a.u. and an aphelion distance of 1.5 a.u. to the nearest hundredth of an a.u., what is its semi-major axis?

Respuesta :

The semi - major axis is a = 2.43 A.U

The semi-major axis, a, is half of the longest diameter of an ellipse. Together with the semi-minor axis , b, and eccentricity, e, it forms a set of related values that completely describe the shape of an ellipse.

Now,

We have to find the semi major axis which we represents as "a".

Aphelion = a( 1+e ) = 1.5 AU.

Perihelion = a( 1−e )= 3.36 AU .

a = ( 1.5 + 3.36 )/2 AU = 2.43 AU .

e = 3.36 - 1.5 /2a

= 1.86 /2 ( 2.43 ) = 1.86 /4.86  

=0.3827.

The semi - major axis is a = 2.43 A.U

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