Question

The planet Jupiter has an average distance from the sun of about `4.837 times 10^8`. The planet Venus average distance from the sun of about `6.72 times 10^7` On average, how much farther from the sun is Jupiter than Venus?

Answer 1

779 million km, nearly.

Explanation:

I assume that the orbital inclinations of Venus `(3.4^o)` and Jupiter

`(1.3^o)` to the ecliptic can be overlooked, for our 3-sd

approximations.

The in-between distance for Venus and Jupiter varies

from the minimum

for Jupiter (J)-Venus(V)-Sun(S) alignment (J......,V...S)

= (perihelion of Jupiter `-`aphelion of Venus)

to the maximum for Jupiter-Sun-Venus alignment (J......S...V),

= (perihelion of Jupiter + aphelion of Venus).

The average is 1/2(maximum + minimum)

= 1/2 (perihelion + aphelion) for Jupiter, the outer planet.

= mean distance of Jupiter from the Sun

= 779 million km, nearly.

Please note that the average distance of Jupiter from the Sun is 779

million km, nearly, from NASA planetary fact sheet.