Given:
For the comet:
Aphelion = 5 AU
Solution:
For the Comet:
Perihelion = 1 AU
So, the length of the major axis, a = Aphelion + Perihelion = 1 + 5 = 6 AU
the length of the semi major axis = radius, R = [tex]\frac{a}{2} = \frac{6}{2}[/tex] = 3 AU
According to Kepler's third law of planetary motion:
[tex]T^{2} = R^{3}[/tex] (1)
where,
T = Time period of rervolution for comet
Using eqn (1):
[tex]T = \sqrt R^{3}[/tex]
[tex]T = \sqrt (3)^{3}[/tex]
T = 5.196 ≈ 5.2 years
