The Pluto-Charon dwarf-planet system contains two massive objects: Pluto and its

Question

The Pluto-Charon dwarf-planet system contains two massive objects: Pluto and its smaller partner Charon. We observe that Charon orbits the baryocenter on a circular orbit with a semimajor axis of 17536 km. The maximum distance between the centers of Pluto and Charon is measured to be 19571 km. Charon completes an orbit every 6.387 days. (a) What is the eccentricity of Pluto's orbit in the Pluto-Charon system? (b) What is the ratio of Pluto's mass to Charon's mass? (c) What are the masses of Pluto and Charon? (d) What is the distance from the center of Pluto to the baryocenter? How does tills compare to the radius of Pluto? (You will have to look up the radius of Pluto)

Explanation / Answer

It is around eight Pluto diameters

It is roughly eight Pluto diameters.

The ratio of Charon’s and Pluto’s mass is 1:7

Pluto's mass isabout 6.4 x 10-9 solar masses

Charon's mass is about 9.6 x 10-10 solar masses

600 miles (960 km) above the surface of the pluto is the distance from the centre of the Pluto to the baryocentre.

Radius of Pluto is 1,187 km

The baryocnentre of Charon-Pluto distance is less than the radius of Pluto

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.