| Using the slider you can change the radius (in AU) of the inner orbit. The angle between the planet and the sun (as viewed from the earth) is shown at greatest elongation. Using the fact that the greatest elongations of Mercury and Venus are known to be 18-28 degrees and 47 degrees, respectively, determine the approximate radii of the orbits of these two planets. In the case of Mercury you should be able to estimate both a perihelion (least distance from the Sun) and an aphelion distance (greatest distance from the Sun). What trigonometric function is involved in the calculation? |