Photo AI
The Asteroid Belt is part of our Solar System - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 8
The Asteroid Belt is part of our Solar System. Vesta is an asteroid in the Asteroid Belt. (a) Vesta orbits the Sun between the orbits of A Venus and Earth B ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The Asteroid Belt is part of our Solar System - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Calculate the time taken for Vesta to orbit the Sun once.
Answer
To find the time taken for Vesta to orbit the Sun once, we can use the formula:
ext{Time} = rac{ ext{Distance}}{ ext{Speed}}Given the distance as 2.2 × 10^{10} m and the speed as 1.9 × 10^7 m/s, we can substitute the values:
ext{Time} = rac{2.2 imes 10^{10} ext{ m}}{1.9 imes 10^{7} ext{ m/s}} = 11579.0 ext{ s}Therefore, the time taken for Vesta to orbit the Sun once is approximately 11579.0 s.
Step 2
Explain why Vesta is accelerating even when it is travelling at a constant speed.
Answer
Vesta is accelerating because it is moving along a curved path. Even though its speed may be constant, the direction of the velocity vector is changing as it orbits the Sun. This change in direction constitutes an acceleration, according to Newton's laws of motion.
Step 3
Explain why the temperature on Vesta does not continue to rise, even though it is absorbing energy from the Sun.
Answer
The temperature on Vesta does not continue to rise because it radiates energy back into space at the same rate that it absorbs energy from the Sun. As Vesta reaches thermal equilibrium, the power absorbed is equal to the power emitted, leading to a stable temperature.
Step 5
Calculate the intensity of the radiation from the Sun at Vesta.
Answer
To calculate the intensity at Vesta using the formula,
ext{Intensity} = rac{K}{d^2}We start by determining K:
Since 1 AU (the distance from the Sun to Earth) is considered as 1 unit,
Now substituting the distance from Vesta to the Sun (2.4 AU) into the intensity formula:
ext{Intensity} = rac{1400}{(2.4)^2}Calculating:
(2.4)^2 = 5.76 ext{ thus } ext{Intensity} = rac{1400}{5.76} ewline ext{Intensity} ext{ at Vesta} ext{ is approximately } 243.1 ext{ W/m}^2.