epler’s First Law: Elliptical Planetary Orbits: The solar system major planet in the most elliptical solar orbit is little Mercury, which is the closest planet to the Sun. At Perihelion, Mercury’s distance from the Sun (Rp) is 0.31 AU. At Aphelion, Mercury’s distance from the Sun (Ra) is 0.47 AU. The intensity of Sunlight (I) that a planet receives from the Sun is inversely proportional to the square of that planet’s distance from the Sun (R). in other words, I = Constant / R2. Calculate how much more intense the Sunlight received by Mercury is at perihelion (p) than at aphelion (a): Rp2 = Ra2 = Ip / Ia = Ra2 / Rp2 =
Kepler’s First Law: Elliptical Planetary Orbits:
The solar system major planet in the most elliptical solar orbit is little Mercury, which is the closest planet to the Sun. At Perihelion, Mercury’s distance from the Sun (Rp) is 0.31 AU. At Aphelion, Mercury’s distance from the Sun (Ra) is 0.47 AU.
The intensity of Sunlight (I) that a planet receives from the Sun is inversely proportional to the square of that planet’s distance from the Sun (R). in other words,
I = Constant / R2.
Calculate how much more intense the Sunlight received by Mercury is at perihelion (p) than at aphelion (a):
Rp2 = Ra2 = Ip / Ia = Ra2 / Rp2 =
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