Question
In our solar system which is the only variable that is used to calculate the time it takes for a planetary body to complete its orbit?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In our solar system, the primary variable used to calculate the time it takes for a planetary body to complete its orbit is the semi-major axis of the orbit, which is the average distance between the planetary body and the sun (or another focal point in the case of other orbital scenarios). This relationship is described by Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, which states that the square of the orbital period (the time it takes for one complete orbit) of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. Specifically, the law can be expressed mathematically as:
\[
T^2 \propto a^3
\]
where \( T \) is the orbital period and \( a \) is the semi-major axis. For our solar system, this law allows us to relate the distance of a planet from the sun to the time it takes to complete its orbit.
\[
T^2 \propto a^3
\]
where \( T \) is the orbital period and \( a \) is the semi-major axis. For our solar system, this law allows us to relate the distance of a planet from the sun to the time it takes to complete its orbit.