Physics 110: Assignment 2

Due Wednesday, September 11.

  1. A (fictitious) planet rotates counterclockwise about its axis once in 2000 hours. It revolves around the Sun, also counterclockwise, once in 6000 hours. Show, using a diagram (not a formula!) that its solar day is 3000 hours long.

  2. Suppose that the planet in problem 1 orbits the Sun clockwise instead of counterclockwise. Determine how long its sidereal and solar days are. Again, use a diagram.

  3. Does the Earth orbit the Sun in the same sense as it rotates about its axis (counterclockwise, looking down from above the north pole), or in the opposite sense (clockwise)? What is the evidence which supports your answer?

Published by NDSU Department of Physics
Douglas A. Kurtze
E-mail: kurtze@plains.nodak.edu
Phone: (701) 231-7048
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