How can we measure the mass of the Sun using Newtons version of Keplers 3rd law?
Use the formula below which is a modification of Kepler’s third law which states P^2 = distance^3, P is period in earth’s years and distance is in A.U.’s (the earth’s distance from the sun) P^2 = 4(pi^2) d^3/(G)(M) where P is the period of a planet in seconds d is the average distance in meters of the planet M is mass in Kilograms of the sun and planet note the sun is so much more massive than any planet we can ignore the planets mass. G is the gravitational 6.66 x 10^-11 m^3 kg^ -1 s^-2 4 pi^2 = 39.4 for earth d = 150x 10^ 6 kilometers = 1.5 x 10^11 meters P = 3.16 x 10^7 seconds M = 4(pi)^2(d^3)/((P^2)(G)) M = (39.4)(1.5 x 10^11)^3/((3.16 x 10^7^)^2 (6.
