Mars takes 1.88 years to revolve around the sun. Determine the ratio of the average distance between Mars and the sun to that between the earth and the sun.

Step-by-step solution

Using Kepler's third law of planetary motion, the square of the time period of revolution is directly proportional to the cube of the average distance from the sun: T^2 R^3 ( T_M T_E )^2 = ( R_M R_E )^3 Given T_M = 1.88 years and T_E = 1 year. ( 1.88 1 )^2 = ( R_M R_E )^3 R_M R_E = (1.88)^ 2/3 R_M R_E = (3.5344)^ 1/3 1.52