Physics: Kepler's Laws

Kepler's First Law

The orbit of each planet around the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.

Kepler's Second Law

As a planet moves around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times

Kepler's Third Law

The square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. (P^2 = a^3)

Earth Average distance from the sun (Au)

1

The unit of distance in Kepler's Third Law is based on what two celestial objects?

Sun and Earth

Halley's comet follows Kelper's Laws of Planetary Motion. Therefore, the speed of this comet during its elliptical orbit around the Sun ______

Increases as it approaches the Sun

Where was Tycho Brahe born?

Denmark

What did Tycho study in college?

Law but his real interests was astronomy and mathematics

What did Tycho Brahe do?

he designed and built instruments to measure the locations of the heavenly bodies very accurately

Where did Tycho bring his instruments and books?

Prague and became the imperial mathematician to the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II

Who is Kepler?

Brahe's assistant. Kepler was a mathematician. He concluded that mathematical laws governed planetary movements. He showed that planets revolved around the sun in elliptical orbits vs. circular orbits. He showed that Copernicus' basic ideas were true.

Where was Kepler born?

Germany

What book did Kepler write

Astronomia Nova (New Astronomy)

Rudolphine Tables

New and improved table of planetary motions created by Brahe. Proof of the Copernican theory

What planet has the lowest eccentricity

Venus (0.007)

What planet has the highest eccentricity?

Mercury (0.21)

Perihelion

orbital point nearest the sun (Fastest)

Aphelion

point in a planet's orbit that is farthest from the sun (Slowest)