Questions and Answers
What is Kepler's First Law?
What does Kepler's Second Law state about a planet's orbit?
A planet spends equal amount of time in its orbit at perihelion & aphelion.
What does Kepler's Third Law relate?
The time it takes a planet to orbit the sun is related to its distance from the sun.
Study Notes
Kepler's First Law
- Planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun situated at one focus of the ellipse.
- The second focus of the ellipse is irrelevant due to the Sun's significant mass and gravitational influence on the planets.
Kepler's Second Law
- A planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times during its orbit around the Sun.
- This implies that a planet travels faster when it is closer to the Sun (perihelion) and slower when it is farther away (aphelion).
Kepler's Third Law
- The time taken for a planet to complete one orbit around the Sun is proportional to the average distance between the planet and the Sun.
- This law illustrates a relationship akin to that of runners on a track, where the orbital period increases with the distance from the Sun.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Kepler's Three Laws of planetary motion with these flashcards. Each card provides a definition that helps you understand how planets move in their orbits around the sun. Perfect for students of astronomy or anyone interested in the fundamentals of celestial mechanics.
