Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

Study Notes

States that the square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of its semi-major axis
Mathematically expressed as: P² ∝ a³
Where P is the orbital period and a is the semi-major axis of the planet's orbit
This law shows that planets with larger orbits take longer to complete one orbit around the Sun

Orbital Shape: Kepler's laws state that the orbits of planets are elliptical in shape, not circular
Orbital Speed: The speed of a planet varies as it moves through its orbit, with the fastest speed at perihelion (closest point to the Sun) and the slowest speed at aphelion (farthest point from the Sun)
Orbital Path: The path of a planet's orbit is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse with the Sun at one of the foci
Astronomical Unit (AU): The average distance between the Earth and the Sun, used as a standard unit of measurement for distances in our solar system

The square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its semi-major axis, expressed as P² ∝ a³.
The law illustrates that planets with larger orbits take longer to complete one orbit around the Sun.
Orbital period and semi-major axis are directly related, with an increase in semi-major axis resulting in a longer orbital period.

Planetary orbits are elliptical in shape, not circular.
The speed of a planet varies throughout its orbit, with the fastest speed at perihelion (closest point to the Sun) and the slowest speed at aphelion (farthest point from the Sun).
The orbital path of a planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the foci.

The Astronomical Unit (AU) is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, used as a standard unit of measurement for distances in our solar system.