Two planets at mean distance d₁ and d₂ from the sun and their frequencies are n₁ and n₂ respectively then
Correct Answer :
n₂²d₂³ = n₁²d₁³
Solution :
The correct option is: n₂²d₂³ = n₁²d₁³.
Step-by-step derivation:
According to Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion (also known as the Law of Periods), the square of the orbital period () of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of its mean distance () from the Sun:
This can be written with a constant of proportionality as:
The frequency of revolution () of a planet is defined as the reciprocal of its orbital period ():
Now, substituting the expression for in terms of into Kepler's relation:
Multiplying both sides by , we get:
Rearranging the equation:
Since the product is constant for any planet orbiting the Sun, we can write the relationship for two different planets as:
Or, equivalently:
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