According to Kepler's third law (p2 = a3), how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?
A)More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed.
B)A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun.
C)A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis.
D)More massive planets must have more circular orbits.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kepler's third law states that the square of the orbital period (p^2) is directly proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis (a^3) of its orbit, which means the mass of the planet does not factor into the equation for its orbit around the Sun. This law applies universally to all orbiting bodies, indicating that the orbital characteristics are independent of the mass of the orbiting body itself.

According to Kepler's Third Law (P2 = A3), How Does