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Mechanics}Kepler's Third Law

Recall Kepler's Third Law stated in its most popular form, The square of the period is proportional to the cube of the orbital radius. (Technically, the orbital radius is the semimajor axis of the ellipse.)

Recast that commonsense fact above into equations to get T \propto R^{3/2}, as in choice (D).

See below for user comments and alternate solutions! See below for user comments and alternate solutions!
Alternate Solutions
rifraff
2016-08-06 22:59:29
(I apologize if this was a double post. The first post was acting funny.)\r\n\r\nIf anyone wants a solution that\'s a bit easier by \"feel,\" maybe:\r\n\r\nThe radial acceleration, a, is proportional to v^2/R.\r\n\r\nThat same radial acceleration is proportional to 1/R^2, since the force is similarly proportioned.\r\n\r\nv^2/R ~ 1/R^2,\r\nso v ~ 1/√R.\r\n\r\nFinally, the time it takes to complete an orbit is t = d/v, where the \"circumference\" d is proportional to R.\r\n\r\nso t ~ R/v, or t ~ R^(3/2).\r\n\r\nThis was easier for me after the first 2 answers were ruled out with some thinking.\r\n\r\nMan, I wish I knew LaTeX.Alternate Solution - Unverified
rifraff
2016-08-06 22:58:18
If anyone wants a solution that\'s a bit easier by \"feel,\" maybe:\r\n\r\nThe radial acceleration, a, is proportional to v^2/R.\r\n\r\nThat same radial acceleration is proportional to 1/R^2, since the force is similarly proportioned.\r\n\r\nv^2/R ~ 1/R^2,\r\nso v ~ 1/√R.\r\n\r\nFinally, the time it takes to complete an orbit is t = d/v, where the \"circumference\" d is proportional to R.\r\n\r\nso t ~ R/v, or t ~ R^(3/2).\r\n\r\nThis was easier for me after the first 2 answers were ruled out with some thinking.\r\n\r\nMan, I wish I knew LaTeX.Alternate Solution - Unverified
nathan12343
2008-08-13 13:44:56
One can always remember that

U = \frac{GMm}{R}

And, from the Virial Theorem,

U = \frac{3}{2}T = \frac{3}{4}mv^2

From this we get

v \propto \sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}

Now, the orbital Period, \tau, is nothing but

\frac{2 \pi R}{v}

So, we have,

\tau \propto R^{\frac{3}{2}}

Which is the answer
Alternate Solution - Unverified
Comments
rifraff
2016-08-06 22:59:29
(I apologize if this was a double post. The first post was acting funny.)\r\n\r\nIf anyone wants a solution that\'s a bit easier by \"feel,\" maybe:\r\n\r\nThe radial acceleration, a, is proportional to v^2/R.\r\n\r\nThat same radial acceleration is proportional to 1/R^2, since the force is similarly proportioned.\r\n\r\nv^2/R ~ 1/R^2,\r\nso v ~ 1/√R.\r\n\r\nFinally, the time it takes to complete an orbit is t = d/v, where the \"circumference\" d is proportional to R.\r\n\r\nso t ~ R/v, or t ~ R^(3/2).\r\n\r\nThis was easier for me after the first 2 answers were ruled out with some thinking.\r\n\r\nMan, I wish I knew LaTeX.Alternate Solution - Unverified
rifraff
2016-08-06 22:58:18
If anyone wants a solution that\'s a bit easier by \"feel,\" maybe:\r\n\r\nThe radial acceleration, a, is proportional to v^2/R.\r\n\r\nThat same radial acceleration is proportional to 1/R^2, since the force is similarly proportioned.\r\n\r\nv^2/R ~ 1/R^2,\r\nso v ~ 1/√R.\r\n\r\nFinally, the time it takes to complete an orbit is t = d/v, where the \"circumference\" d is proportional to R.\r\n\r\nso t ~ R/v, or t ~ R^(3/2).\r\n\r\nThis was easier for me after the first 2 answers were ruled out with some thinking.\r\n\r\nMan, I wish I knew LaTeX.Alternate Solution - Unverified
secretempire1
2012-08-28 06:29:51
The general velocity equation is V=\frac{d}{t}.

Orbital velocity V_{orbit} = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}.

so if you consider your distance in the equation to be the orbital path, then d = 2\pi R.

Rearranging the general equation to solve for time leaves t=\frac{d}{V}.

Plugging in yields t=\frac{2\pi R}{\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}} = \frac{2\pi R \sqrt{R}}{\sqrt{GM}} = \frac{2\pi R^{\frac{3}{2}}}{\sqrt{GM}}.

Therefore t \propto R^{\frac{3}{2}}.
NEC
nathan12343
2008-08-13 13:44:56
One can always remember that

U = \frac{GMm}{R}

And, from the Virial Theorem,

U = \frac{3}{2}T = \frac{3}{4}mv^2

From this we get

v \propto \sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}

Now, the orbital Period, \tau, is nothing but

\frac{2 \pi R}{v}

So, we have,

\tau \propto R^{\frac{3}{2}}

Which is the answer
Alternate Solution - Unverified
michealmas
2007-01-01 16:00:24
That's an elegant way to solve it, but if you didn't remember it, you could equate the forces, Newtons Law of Gravitation with the centripetal force for uniform circular motion:

\frac{GMm}{r^{2}} = \frac{m v^{2}}{r}

using

v = \omega r

and

T = \frac{2 \pi}{\omega}.
NEC

Post A Comment!
You are replying to:
The general velocity equation is V=\frac{d}{t}. Orbital velocity V_{orbit} = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}. so if you consider your distance in the equation to be the orbital path, then d = 2\pi R. Rearranging the general equation to solve for time leaves t=\frac{d}{V}. Plugging in yields t=\frac{2\pi R}{\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}} = \frac{2\pi R \sqrt{R}}{\sqrt{GM}} = \frac{2\pi R^{\frac{3}{2}}}{\sqrt{GM}}. Therefore t \propto R^{\frac{3}{2}}.

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