Kepler's Laws and Gravitation

What is the primary factor that determines the shape of a planet's orbit according to Kepler's first law?

• The planet's speed

• The gravitational pull of the Sun

• The distance from the Sun

• The planet's mass

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

According to Kepler's second law, what happens to a planet's orbital speed as it moves away from the Sun?

• The speed becomes zero

• The speed remains constant

• The speed decreases

• The speed increases

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Which of the following best describes Kepler's first law of planetary motion?

• Planets move in circular orbits with the Sun at the center.

• Planets move in parabolic orbits with the Sun at one focus.

• Planets move in hyperbolic orbits with the Sun at the center.

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

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

What does Kepler's second law imply about the area swept by a planet in its orbit over equal time intervals?

• The area is smaller when the planet is closer to the Sun.

• The area is larger when the planet is closer to the Sun.

• The area is equal regardless of the planet's position in its orbit.

• The area is unrelated to the planet's position in its orbit.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

What does Kepler's second law imply about the speed of a planet as it moves in its orbit?

• The speed varies, being faster when closer to the Sun and slower when farther away.

• The speed is constant throughout the orbit.

• The speed is slower when closer to the Sun and faster when farther away.

• The speed is unrelated to its position in the orbit.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Which of the following best describes the significance of the semi-major axis in Kepler's laws?

• It determines the color of the planet.

• It is used to calculate the orbital period using Kepler's third law.

• It is the shortest diameter of the ellipse.

• It has no significance.

What is true about the area between points A, B and the Sun, and the area between points H, I and the Sun?

• The area between A, B and the Sun is the largest.

• The area between H, I and the Sun is the largest

• Both areas are equal in size

• There is not enough information to determine the areas

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

In the context of Kepler's laws, what is an ellipse?

• A shape with two foci, where the sum of the distances from any point on the ellipse to the two foci is constant.

• A shape with one focus, where the distance from any point on the ellipse to the focus is constant.

• A shape with no foci, where the distance from any point on the ellipse to the center is constant.

• A shape with three foci, where the sum of the distances from any point on the ellipse to the three foci is constant.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What is the shape of Earth's orbital path around the Sun according to Kepler's laws?

• Perfectly circular

• Nearly circular

• Highly elliptical

• Square

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Kepler's second law is also known as the law of:

• Ellipses

• Equal areas

• Harmonies

• Universal gravitation

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4