Question

The distance from the Earth to the Sun is known as an astronomical unit (AU). This distance is also equal to 1.496e+011 m. Neptune has an orbit with an average diameter of 8.80e+009 km. What is the distance from the Sun to Neptune in AU?

A. 24.5 AU
B. 36.3 AU
C. 29.4 AU
D. 68.5 AU
E. 55.8 AU

Answer 1

The distance from the Sun to Neptune is 29,41 AU.

Step-by-step explanation:

We know, from the sentence, that the orbit of Neptune has an average diameter around 8.80*10⁹km.

Now, we can calculate the radius of this orbit, which is equivalent to the distance from thsi planet to the Sun. Let's recall tha the radius is the half of the diameter.

`R=(8.80\cdot 10^(9))/(2)=4.4\cdot 10^(9)km=4.4\cdot 10^(12)m`

Ok, we know that 1.496*10¹¹m is an AU, therefore we have:

`4.4\cdot 10^(12)m\cdot (1 AU)/(1.496\cdot 10^(11))=29,41 AU`

Finally, the distance R is 29,41 AU.

I hope it helps you! :)