One of the so-called Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Physics for Scientists and Engineers,

Chapter 11 Problem 25

Question

One of the so-called Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt occurs at an orbital radius at which the period of the orbit is half that of Jupiters. The reason there is a gap for orbits of this radius is because of the periodic pulling (by Jupiter) that an asteroid experiences at the same location with every other orbit around the Sun. Repeated tugs from Jupiter of this kind would eventually change the orbit of such an asteroid. Therefore, all asteroids that would otherwise have orbited at this radius have presumably been cleared away from the area due to this resonance phenomenon. How far from the Sun is this particular 2:1 resonance Kirkwood gap?

Solution

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The first step in solving 11 problem number 25 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: One of the so-called Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt occurs at an orbital radius at which the period of the orbit is half that of Jupiters. The reason there is a gap for orbits of this radius is because of the periodic pulling (by Jupiter) that an asteroid experiences at the same location with every other orbit around the Sun. Repeated tugs from Jupiter of this kind would eventually change the orbit of such an asteroid. Therefore, all asteroids that would otherwise have orbited at this radius have presumably been cleared away from the area due to this resonance phenomenon. How far from the Sun is this particular 2:1 resonance Kirkwood gap?
From the textbook chapter GRAVITY you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 6 
Author Paul A. Tipler, Gene Mosca
ISBN 9781429201247

One of the so-called Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt

Chapter 11 textbook questions

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