If an Asteroid Were Found to Be Orbiting in a Circular

question 15

Multiple Choice

If an asteroid were found to be orbiting in a circular path around the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter (5.2 au) , what would be its orbital period compared with that of Jupiter, which is 11.86 years?

• A) about 10 times as long as Jupiter's period, or 118.6 years, because the Sun's gravitational force is much smaller on such a small object
• B) about 1/10 of Jupiter's period because it is a much smaller object
• C) same as Jupiter's period, 11.86 years
• D) exactly 1/2 of Jupiter's period, or 5.93 years, because it would be in a synchronous orbit with Jupiter