Predict: Pluto has an orbital radius of 39.529 AU. Based on Kepler's third law, what is the approximate period of Pluto's orbit? (Hint: Find the cube of the orbital radius first, and then take the square root.)

period of Pluto is 248 years

Explanation:

In our solar system, anything orbiting the Sun obeys a simplified form of Kepler's third law if the period T is measured in years and the semi-major axis a distance is measured in AU.

T^2=a^3

If Pluto has a semi-major axis distance a=39.529 AU then T^2=(39.529)^3 which gives T=248.52 years.

Therefore, period of Pluto is 248 years which is close.

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