Assume that the length of the major axis of
Earth’s orbit is 186,000,000 miles and that the eccentricity
is 0.017. Approximate, to the nearest 1000 miles, the maximum
and minimum distances between Earth and the sun.

Question

Assume that the length of the major axis of
Earth’s orbit is 186,000,000 miles and that the eccentricity
is 0.017. Approximate, to the nearest 1000 miles, the maximum
and minimum distances between Earth and the sun.

rock_mit182 · Answer

@ganeshie8  @thomaster

rock_mit182 · Answer

@Loser66 @mathstudent55  @whpalmer4

rock_mit182 · Answer

@amistre64

amistre64 · Answer

the sun forms one focus of an elliptic orbit, the earth travels along the elliptic orbit

when is the earth closest to the sun?  what part of an ellipse is closest to a focus?

rock_mit182 · Answer

THE FOCI ?

amistre64 · Answer

the sun is one of the foci, yes

amistre64 · Answer

eccentricity is defined as c/a  where a is a vertex parameter, and c is a focus parameter.

rock_mit182 · Answer

|dw:1398437311298:dw|

rock_mit182 · Answer

SO I have :

e =0.017
major axis ? =1.68 *10^8 miles

amistre64 · Answer

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