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  • Calculating Planetary Distance: Using Kepler's Third Law
    You can use Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion to calculate the distance of a planet from the Sun. Here's how it works:

    Kepler's Third Law:

    The square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.

    * P² = a³

    Where:

    * P is the orbital period in years

    * a is the semi-major axis (average distance from the Sun) in astronomical units (AU)

    Solving for the distance (a):

    1. We know P = 50 years

    2. Substitute P into the equation: 50² = a³

    3. Simplify: 2500 = a³

    4. Solve for a (take the cube root of both sides): a = ³√2500 ≈ 13.57 AU

    Therefore, the distance of Planet X from the Sun is approximately 13.57 astronomical units.

    Important Note: This calculation assumes a circular orbit for simplicity. Real planetary orbits are slightly elliptical, but this gives you a good approximation.

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