Download Exoplanets Lab

W.P. Wagner Astronomy and AstroFizzics Research Group
Background
An extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is a planet that is orbiting another star. There are more than 1700
known exoplanets. They can be observed by a variety of methods, some of which are based on Physics
20 concepts.
You and your team of astronomers will analyze one set of the data shown below to determine if the
unconfirmed planet is actually in the solar system. The names of exoplanets are the name of the star
followed by a letter.
Analysis
 Manipulate the supplied data to obtain a linear graph. Check your notes on Kepler’s Third Law
for a hint or two. Graph the data for the confirmed planets.
Conclusion and Evaluation
 Using your graph, determine if the unconfirmed planet is actually a planet in the solar system.
Briefly explain your method.
 According to your data and analysis, just how confident are you in your conclusion? Justify your
answer.
Orbital Period Orbital Radius
(days)
(AU)
Upsilon Andromedae b
4.6171
0.0595
Upsilon Andromedae c
241.33
0.832
Upsilon Andromedae d
1278.1
2.53
Upsilon Andromedae e
3848.9
5.2456
Upsilon Andromedae f*
1001.5
1.887
Exoplanet
Orbital Period Orbital Radius Discovered
(days)
(AU)
55 Cancri b
14.66
0.118
1996
55 Cancri c
44.28
0.240
2002
55 Cancri d
5360
5.90
2002
55 Cancri e
3.00
0.0400
2004
55 Cancri f
260.8
0.738
2007
55 Cancri g*
24.0
0.190
Last week!
Exoplanet
Orbital Period Orbital Radius
(days)
(AU)
Mu Arae b
643.25
1.497
Mu Arae c
9.6386
0.09094
Mu Arae d
310.55
0.921
Mu Arae e
4205.8
5.235
Mu Arae f*
2301.4
3.478
Exoplanet
The asterisk after a planet name
means its existence is
unconfirmed.