How much greater is the angualr momentum of the Earth orbiting about the sun than the moon orbititng about the Earth? (Mass of Earth is 6x10E24Kg, mass of moon is 7.4x10E22Kg, Earth-sun distance is 1.5x10E11m, and Earth-moon distance is 3.8x10E8m.)
2007-11-30 14:36:45 · 2 answers · asked by SoRealistic 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As a shortcut, you can use the fact that Angular momentum is proportional to mass and to velocity.
The velocity of Earth around the Sun is given by the length of Earth's orbit circumference, divided by the time it takes for one orbit (say 365.256363 days for the sidereal year).
The Moon's orbit is much smaller and the Moon's velocity is therefore less, even though it complets it orbit, around Earth in 27.321662 days (sidereal month).
You already have the information to find the mass ratio.
You will see that the ratio of angular momenta is obviously not 12.
2007-11-30 14:53:51 · answer #1 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its obviously twelve
2007-11-30 14:44:27 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Jones 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋