Question

Mars has an approximately circular orbit around the Sun. If this orbit has a radius of 142 million miles and Mars makes this orbit once every 687 days, which of the following is closest to the average speed of Mars in miles per hour as it orbits the Sun? a) 5,000 mph b) 54,000 mph c) 108,000 mph d) 1,300,000 mph

Answer 1

Mars velocity = 142,000,000 miles / 687 days

Mars orbital distance = 2* PI * radius =

892,212,314 miles

687 days * 24 = 16,488 hours

Therefore Mars velocity =

892,212,314 miles / 16,488 hours which equals

54,113 miles per hour

Answer is "b" 54,000 mph

Explanation: