Exercise: Kepler’s Laws

• Suppose you know that the radius of Saturn’s orbit is about 9 AU. (the radius of the Earth’s orbit = 1AU).

  • Can you predict the average speed of Saturn in its orbit in terms of the average speed of the Earth in its orbit?
    • If you can, do it; if you can’t, what other information would you need?
      
  • Can you predict the acceleration of Saturn in its orbit in terms of the acceleration of the Earth in its orbit?
    • If you can, do it; if you can’t, what other information would you need?
      
  • Can you predict the force that the Sun exerts on Saturn in terms of the force that the Sun exerts on the Earth?
    • If you can, do it; if you can’t, what other information would you need?

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