Keplers Laws

Front

What is Kepler's First Law?

Back

Planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.

Front

What does Kepler's Second Law state?

Back

A line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time.

Front

What is the shape of a planet's orbit according to Kepler's Laws?

Back

Elliptical.

Front

What are the two points called that define an ellipse?

Back

Foci.

Front

What is eccentricity in relation to an ellipse?

Back

A measure of how much an ellipse deviates from being circular.

Front

What is the eccentricity of a circle?

Back

0.

Front

What is the eccentricity of a highly elongated ellipse?

Back

.99.

Front

What does Kepler's Third Law relate to?

Back

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

Front

What is the semi-major axis of an ellipse?

Back

The longest radius of an ellipse, half the length of the major axis.

Front

What is aphelion?

Back

The point in the orbit of a planet where it is farthest from the Sun.