Radar Rotation of Mercury
A CLEA, computer lab,
Done at Montgomery College, Takoma Park
Dr. Harold Williams, professor
Student’s Name: ______________________________
Date you took data: ______________________
c=3E8 m/s=3x108 m/s Rmerc=2.42E6 m=2.42 x106 f=430Mhz=4.3E8 hz=4.3 x108 hz
c/f=6.976E-1 m=6.976 x10-1 m
2p Rmerc =1.5205E7 m=1.5205 x107 m
m is meters. s is seconds. hz is herz=cycle/s.
(1day/86,400s)*2p Rmerc =1.759E2 m day/s=1.759 x102 m day/s
 
D t(s) 120E-6 210E-6 300E-6 390E-6
d(m)= cD t/2        
x(m)= Rmerc –d        
y(m)=Ö (Rmerc2-x2)        
D fleft        
D fright        
D ftotal=(D fright -D fleft)/2        
D fc=D ftotal /2        
V0(m/s)= D fc c/f        
V(m/s)= Rmerc V0/y        
P(days)= (1day/86,400s)2p Rmerc /V         

D f sub earth pulse(T=0) = _________ Vorbital =c (D f sub earth pulse /f) = ___ _m/s=______ km/s
Average Rotation Period of Mercury Prot = _________days
What Percentage difference from the accepted value of 59 days?
100*(Prot -59)/59 = ________%        last modified May 11, 1999.