Sun vs. Jupiter

• Central Forces 2021

  Gain experience with the relative sizes of objects and distances in the Solar System. Gain experience with realistic reduced masses.

  Calculate the following quantities:

  1. Find \(|{\vec r}_{\rm sun}-{\vec r}_{\rm cm}|\) and \(\mu\) for the Sun-Earth system. Compare \(|{\vec r}_{\rm sun}-{\vec r}_{\rm cm}|\) to the radius of the Sun and to the distance from the Sun to the Earth. Compare \(\mu\) to the mass of the Sun and the mass of the Earth.
  2. Repeat the calculation for the Sun-Jupiter system.