Question

Saturn has an orbital period of 29.46 years. In two or more complete sentences, explain how to calculate the average distance from Saturn to the sun and then calculate it.

Answer 1

For astronomical objects, the time period can be calculated using:
T² = (4π²a³)/GM
where T is time in Earth years, a is distance in Astronomical units, M is solar mass (1 for the sun)
Thus,
T² = a³
a = ∛(29.46²)
a = 0.67 AU
1 AU = 1.496 × 10⁸ Km
0.67 * 1.496 × 10⁸ Km
= 1.43 × 10⁹ Km