GREPhysics.NET
GR | #
<< Previous | Next >>
Login | Register
   
  GR8677 #75
Problem
GREPhysics.NET Official Solution    Alternate Solutions
Verbatim question for GR8677 #75
Mechanics}Kepler's Third Law

One recalls (or should memorize now) the famous slogan: The square of the period is proportional to the cube of the distance. In equation form,


One does not need to know the proportionality factor to solve this problem. In fact, the problem gives T=80 minutes at d=R_e. Thus, 80^2=k R_e^3 \Rightarrow k = 80^2minutes/R_e^3.

There are 24 \times 60 minutes in 24 hours. Plug that into the equation (and the relation for k as determined above) to get,



No calculators allowed, so (18^2)^{1/3} is about 400^{1/3}, which is closest to 7, as in choice (B).
See below for user comments and alternate solutions! See below for user comments and alternate solutions!
Alternate Solutions
oliTUTilo
2012-11-02 21:48:53		In case you can't remember Kepler's Law (I couldn't), you can jimmy it starting with the circular motion acceleration law and the force of gravity law to get the relation between period and orbit.
\frac{v^2}{R}=a =G \frac{M}{R^2}\Rightarrow v^2R=Const (1)
vT=2\pi R \Rightarrow v=\frac{R}{T}Const (2)
Plugging (2) into (1),
{(\frac{R}{T})}^2 R=Const\Rightarrow R=T^{\frac{2}{3}}Const

By the way, for approximating roots (cube roots), I find the surrounding powers (cubes). So
8^{\frac{2}{3}} < 18^{\frac{2}{3}} < 27^{\frac{2}{3}} \Rightarrow 4<18^{\frac{2}{3}}<9		Alternate Solution - Unverified
wittensdog
2009-07-26 14:02:16		In terms of simplifying the radical expression, there's a method I found somewhat useful. If you write out 18 in terms of prime factors, you get 2*3*3. It is then easy to write the square of 18 in terms of prime factors, since you just double the number of each factor, and you have 2*2*3*3*3*3. If you call one of the 3's a 2, which is a somewhat reasonable approximation, then you have 3 3's and 3 2's, resulting in (2*2*2)*(3*3*3). Clearly, taking the cube root of that results in 2*3 = 6. It's not super exact, but certainly close enough to get the right answer.Alternate Solution - Unverified
Comments
klestecyca
2018-10-19 04:07:32		Yosun, I believe after you plug in for k, the d^3 should be in the numerator, not the denominator.
danielsw98667
2019-09-13 12:38:29		 This is my waterloo. tiny tower laptop stand
NEC
62a
2016-09-22 05:34:45		d is proportional to T^(2/3). So increasing T by a factor of C increases d by a factor of C^(2/3). That\'s probably the easiest and fastest way to proceed.NEC
oliTUTilo
2012-11-02 21:48:53		In case you can't remember Kepler's Law (I couldn't), you can jimmy it starting with the circular motion acceleration law and the force of gravity law to get the relation between period and orbit.
\frac{v^2}{R}=a =G \frac{M}{R^2}\Rightarrow v^2R=Const (1)
vT=2\pi R \Rightarrow v=\frac{R}{T}Const (2)
Plugging (2) into (1),
{(\frac{R}{T})}^2 R=Const\Rightarrow R=T^{\frac{2}{3}}Const

By the way, for approximating roots (cube roots), I find the surrounding powers (cubes). So
8^{\frac{2}{3}} < 18^{\frac{2}{3}} < 27^{\frac{2}{3}} \Rightarrow 4<18^{\frac{2}{3}}<9
withshirt
2013-11-11 08:00:33		 your solution is better
Alternate Solution - Unverified
oliTUTilo
2012-11-02 21:47:09		In case you can't remember Kepler's Law (I couldn't), you can jimmy it starting with the circular motion acceleration law and the force of gravity law to get the relation between period and orbit.
\frac{v^2}{R}=a =G \frac{M}{R^2}\Rightarrow v^2R=Const (1)
vT=2\pi R \Rightarrow v=\frac{R}{T}Const (2)
Plugging (2) into (1),
{(\frac{R}{T})}^2 R=Const\Rightarrow R=T^{\frac{2}{3}}Const

By the way, for approximating roots (cube roots), I find the surrounding powers (cubes). So
8^{\frac{2}{3}} < 18^{\frac{2}{3}} < 27^{\frac{2}{3}} \Rightarrow 4<18^{\frac{2}{3}}<9		NEC
FutureDrSteve
2011-10-27 13:17:18		Hey all,

I was just looking through my intro physics text, reading about Kepler's Laws and there was a sample problem about geosynchronous orbit. Anyway, if you're a fan of memorization, the radius for geosynchronous orbit is about 4E7m. If you also know the radius of the Earth (abt 6E6m), then this problem just boils down to "how many solar radii equal the radius for geosynchronous orbit?" and you don't need to do any real physics. Of course, you have to know those two values, but now you do! :)		NEC
neon37
2010-11-03 23:30:02		One easy thing to do when doing this kind of problem is grouping the prime factors in groups of n if you need to take nth root and factoring those things out then it becomes a lot easier. For example for this problem at one point you should get \sqrt[3]{3*3*6*6} so to simplify this, you can do \sqrt[3]{3^3*2*6} which gives 3\sqrt[3]{12} and you should know that \sqrt[3]{12} is more that 2 and less than 3 and closer to 2 than 3. So its obvious that the answer becomes 7.NEC
wittensdog
2009-07-26 14:02:16		In terms of simplifying the radical expression, there's a method I found somewhat useful. If you write out 18 in terms of prime factors, you get 2*3*3. It is then easy to write the square of 18 in terms of prime factors, since you just double the number of each factor, and you have 2*2*3*3*3*3. If you call one of the 3's a 2, which is a somewhat reasonable approximation, then you have 3 3's and 3 2's, resulting in (2*2*2)*(3*3*3). Clearly, taking the cube root of that results in 2*3 = 6. It's not super exact, but certainly close enough to get the right answer.
wittensdog
2009-10-07 17:55:00		 To convince yourself that you shouldn't be worried about the error, even without going and finding the exact values to compare, notice that you're introducing an error on the order of (3/2) ^ 1/3, by flipping a 3 to a 2 underneath the radical.

Now, just by looking at the expression,

(1.5) ^ (1/3)

or the cube root of 1.5, you can tell that it's certainly more than one and less than 1.5, probably closer to the one side (the actual result is something around 1.145, but pretend you don't know that). Now, for sure, this at least tells us we're not introducing anything like a factor of two in error, and looking at the answer choices and how much they're spaced out, we know it's definitely not 3 or 18, since going from a value of 6 to one of those would mean at least a factor of two of error. So you can definitely feel safe about 7.

I know when I type it all out it seems sort of long, but I think being able to approximate like this, and also being aware of how good your approximation is, is something that would be good to be able to do quickly without thinking too much. I mean seriously, how else are you going to calculate something like 18^(2/3) ?? Anyone who thinks they're going to approach it by doing out 18^2 to find 324, and then trying to take the cube root of that, is not going to get far on the test. Even ball-parking it as 400 and trying to take the cube root isn't exactly a walk in the park.
insertphyspun
2011-02-19 14:19:47		 Come on, physicists don't use prime factorization. Ball parking is easy. 18 is 20, 20^2=400. Among the answers, what cubed is about 400? 3^3=27, nope. We just did 18^2, so clearly the answer is not 18. So it's 7.

Just to make sure, 7^2 is 50 so 7^3 is 350. Close enough.
jmkelly
2012-10-03 10:28:47		 Nice.
Alternate Solution - Unverified
herrphysik
2006-10-30 00:32:29		No need to solve for a proportionality factor, just use the form (T_1/T_2)^2=(s_1/s_2)^3. Same thing. Also, the exact result I get is 4.2R_e, so I suppose it would actually be 7R_e and not 3R_e due to the gravitational force being less at the higher orbit?
tin2019
2007-10-29 10:52:42		 The exact result is 6.868
deneb
2018-10-10 05:14:29		 Agreed, just a simple ratio problem. \r\n\r\nT1 = 4/3 hours\r\nT2 = 24 hours\r\n\r\nR1 = 1 Re\r\nR2 = a * Re\r\n\r\nsolve for a\r\n\r\n18^2 = a^3\r\n\r\na = 18^(2/3)\r\n\r\nwe can approximate 18^(1/3) to be around 2.5, which squared is 6.25. Answer is B.
NEC

Post A Comment!
You are replying to:
In case you can't remember Kepler's Law (I couldn't), you can jimmy it starting with the circular motion acceleration law and the force of gravity law to get the relation between period and orbit. \frac{v^2}{R}=a =G \frac{M}{R^2}\Rightarrow v^2R=Const (1) vT=2\pi R \Rightarrow v=\frac{R}{T}Const (2) Plugging (2) into (1), {(\frac{R}{T})}^2 R=Const\Rightarrow R=T^{\frac{2}{3}}Const By the way, for approximating roots (cube roots), I find the surrounding powers (cubes). So 8^{\frac{2}{3}} < 18^{\frac{2}{3}} < 27^{\frac{2}{3}} \Rightarrow 4<18^{\frac{2}{3}}<9

Username:
Password:
Click here to register.
This comment is best classified as a: (mouseover)
 
Mouseover the respective type above for an explanation of each type.

Bare Basic LaTeX Rosetta Stone
LaTeX syntax supported through dollar sign wrappers $, ex., $\alpha^2_0$ produces .
type this... to get...
$\int_0^\infty$
$\partial$
$\Rightarrow$
$\ddot{x},\dot{x}$
$\sqrt{z}$
$\langle my \rangle$
$\left( abacadabra \right)_{me}$
$\vec{E}$
$\frac{a}{b}$
 
The Sidebar Chatbox...
Scroll to see it, or resize your browser to ignore it...

All-Solutions List | Latest Comments | Unanswered Questions (Cries for Help!) |::| About

© 2005-2007 by Yosun Chang, All rights reserved.

This site is not affiliated with ETS, nor is it officially endorsed (yet) by ETS. This site is the work of an individual named Yosun Chang. The solutions, sans user comments and ETS questions, are © 2005 by Yosun Chang except where noted. All rights reserved. / The comments appending particular solutions are due to the respective users. / Educational Testing Service, ETS, the ETS logo, Graduate Record Examinations, and GRE are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service. The examination questions are © 1997 and © 2001 by ETS.