(1) The document discusses Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) and their orbital characteristics around the Sun.
(2) It notes that there is a cluster of KBOs around 39.4AU known as plutinos, which have a wide range of eccentricities.
(3) The reader is directed to interact with an orbital plot showing KBO orbits and draw conclusions about their perihelion distances and eccentricities.
Notice that there is a cluster of KBO at around 39.4AU, albeit with a.pdf
1. Notice that there is a cluster of KBO at around 39.4AU, albeit with a wide range of eccentricity.
These are the plutinos. The following exercise directs you to interact with the orbital plot and to
draw several conclusions from it. In doing so keep in mind the following definitions. 0.4 (the top
of the plot) implies an object that travels through a wide range of distances from the Sun
significantly smaller than its orbital semi-major axis. whose perihelion distance is equal, or
nearly equal, to the semimajor axis? along the right edge along the top edge along the left edge
along the bottom edge In order for the perihelion distance and semimajor axis to be equal, or
nearly so, the eccentricity must be zero, or nearly so. Which of the four choices in this problem
ensures that outcome? (b) What best describes the part of the graph where the classical KBOs are
found? nearly circular orbits that get closest to the Sun eccentric (out-of-round) orbits that stay
farthest from the Sun nearly circular orbits that stay farthest from the Sun eccentric (out-of-
round) orbits that get closest to the Sun (c) Pluto's orbital semimajor axis is aP1=39.5AU, and its
orbital eccentricity is ep1=0.25. What does that imply for its closest approach to the sun? Pluto's
perihelion has a value less than 25AU. 10 Pluto's perihelion has a value betveen 25 and 30AU.
Pluto's perihelion has a value betveen 30 and 35AU. Pluto's perihelion has a value greater than
35AU.
(d) On average, which KBOs have the most eccentric (out-of-round) orbits? begin{tabular}{l}
plutinos scattered KBOs classical KBOs no group tends to have greater eccentricities than
another hline end{tabular} Recall that the most eccentric orbits are represented by points
closest to the top of the plot. (e) On average, which KBOs come closest to the sun? plutinos
scattered KBOs classical KBO no group tends to have smaller perihelia than another 3 Be sure
that you have checked the show perihelion distance lines box, and recall that smaller perihelion
values correspond to objects that get closer to the Sun.
