In: Mechanical Engineering
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING QUESTION
1) Calculate the synodic period of Venus with respect to Earth.
I'm not sure exactly how to do this. Our professor hasn't given us a formula or anything. Can someone please give me a hand. Thank You.
EDIT: I FIGURED IT OUT. :)
The synodic period is the amount of time required for a planet to return to the same point in its orbit relative to Earth and Sun. Mathematical formula of synodic period is given by:
Here SP1 and SP2 is sidereal period Venus and Earth respectively. Sidereal period of a planet is the time required to complete one revolution with respect to distant star.
Sidereal period of Venus with respect to Sun is 224.70 days and Earth completes one revolution with respect to Sun in 365.26 days.
Substituting the sidereal periods in above formula and we get:
Therefore the synodic period of venus with respect to Earth is 583.91 days.