Planets Travel in Elliptical Orbits with the Sun at One $2 a$

question 50

Multiple Choice

Planets travel in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus. Assume that the focus is at the pole, the major axis lies on the polar axis, and the length of the major axis is $2 a$ (see figure) . The polar equation of the orbit of a planet is given below, where $e$ is the eccentricity. If $a = 88.908 \times 10 ^ { 6 }$ miles and $e = 0.0260$ , find the perihelion distance (the minimum distance from the sun to the planet) . Round your answer to the nearest mile.

• A) \(86,596,392\) miles
• B) \(91,219,608\) miles
• C) \(8,659,639\) miles
• D) \(9,121,961\) miles
• E) \(865,963,920\) miles

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Definitions:

Epistatic Gene

A gene that can interfere with the expression of other genes, altering the phenotypic outcome and creating variations in traits.

Dominant

Referring to an allele or a gene that expresses its phenotype even in the presence of a recessive allele of the same gene.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism consisting of all the DNA sequences (genes) it possesses, determining specific traits.

RR Parent

Refers to a plant that is homozygous for the round seed shape allele in Mendelian genetics, "RR" signifies both alleles for a trait are the same (dominant).