A newly discovered asteroid approaches the Sun as close as and goes as far as during…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

A newly discovered asteroid approaches the Sun as close as

0.50\,\text{AU}

and goes as far as

4.50\,\text{AU}

during its orbit. (a) Calculate the semi-major axis of its orbit. (b) Determine the eccentricity of its orbit.