Alternatively, do a google search for the Earth's moment of inertia. The simplistic assumption of a uniform sphere yields a value that is off by more than 20%. In other words, while it is in the right ball park, it is not very good.mgb_phys said:You probably have to make some assumptions that the planet is a uniform solid sphere (a bit of an overestimate for a real planet)
Nobody said anything about Earth !D H said:Alternatively, do a google search for the Earth's moment of inertia..
Fine. Look up the moment of inertia for any planet. The uniform density assumption overstates the moment of inertia for the Sun by almost an order of magnitude, the gas giants by 60% to 100%, and the terrestrial planets by 10% (Mars) to 20% (Earth).mgb_phys said:Nobody said anything about Earth !
Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion.
Kinetic energy for a planet can be calculated using the equation KE = 1/2 * m * v^2, where m is the mass of the planet and v is its velocity.
Yes, a planet's kinetic energy can change as its mass or velocity changes. For example, as a planet moves closer to or further away from its star, its velocity and therefore its kinetic energy will change.
The main factors that affect a planet's kinetic energy are its mass, velocity, and distance from its star. Other factors such as gravitational pull from other celestial bodies and atmospheric drag can also have an impact.
Kinetic energy plays a crucial role in a planet's motion and orbit. It determines the speed at which a planet moves and how far it can travel. It also influences the planet's gravitational pull and can affect its interactions with other planets and celestial bodies.