Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

Front

What is Kepler's 1st Law of Planetary Motion?

Back

Planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one of the foci.

Front

What shape do planets' orbits take according to Kepler's Laws?

Back

Ellipses.

Front

What is the significance of the Sun in Kepler's 1st Law?

Back

The Sun is located at one of the foci of the elliptical orbits.

Front

What determines the length of a planet's year?

Back

The distance of the planet from the Sun; closer planets have shorter years.

Front

What is Kepler's 2nd Law of Planetary Motion?

Back

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

Front

What does Kepler's 2nd Law imply about a planet's speed in its orbit?

Back

A planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is farther away.

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What is Kepler's 3rd Law of Planetary Motion?

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

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How does the mass of a planet affect its orbit according to Kepler's Laws?

Back

The mass of the planet does not affect the shape of its orbit; it is determined by the Sun's gravitational pull.

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What is an ellipse?

Back

An elongated circle; the shape of planetary orbits as described by Kepler.

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What role does the Sun's gravitational field play in planetary motion?

Back

It governs the orbits of planets and comets, affecting their speed and path.