The radius of the Earth’s orbit around the sun (assumed to be circular) is 1.50∙10^8 km, and the Earth travels around this obit in 365 days. The mass of the Earth is 5.97∙10^24 kg.
(a)What is the magnitude of the orbital velocity of the Earth, in m/s?
(b)What is the magnitude of centripetal force acting on the Earth?
(c)Calculate the gravitational acceleration OF the Earth (not ON the Earth). Hint: think of your answer to part (d), and set two forces equal to each other.
(d) Repeat parts (a)-(b) and (c) of the previous problem for the motion of the planet Mercury (orbital radius = 5.79∙10^7 km, orbital period = 88.0 days, mass =3.30∙10^23 kg).
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