Suppose a "hot Jupiter" is observed using the radial velocity method orbiting its parent star at a distance of 0.056 AU, with a period of 5.6 days. Assume the orbit is a circle. How fast would the planet be moving?
First, calculate the circumference of the planet's orbit in kilometers. This is the distance the planet covers during one orbit around the star. Remember that 1 AU = 1.496 x 10^8 km.
Now, calculate the speed of the planet around its star in kilometers per hour. This is the distance divided by the time it takes for the planet to complete one orbit.
How much faster is this planet compared to Earth? Find the ratio of this planet's speed to the speed of Earth around the Sun (107,300 km/h).