Copy of Kepler's Laws
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School
University of Texas *
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Course
420
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
Pages
4
Uploaded by ColonelThunderKudu36 on coursehero.com
Kepler’s Laws
OBJECTIVES
To explore and understand each of Kepler’s three laws
To simulate a variety of orbits and confirm each follows Kepler’s Laws
EXPLORE THE SIMULATION
●
(Never learned about Kepler’s Laws before? You should
review this lesson
first.)
●
Launch the
Gravity Simulator
.
●
Watch
this brief instructor video
, which shows the basic functions of the simulation.
●
Experiment with the simulation yourself. Try making your own solar system.
KEPLER’S FIRST LAW
1.
Remove any existing planets by pressing the “Clear Spacetime” button.
2.
Make sure that the “Simulation Mode” is set to Kepler’s 1st Law. In this mode, you can
fling a planet in any direction you like at any speed you like.
3.
Kepler’s 1st Law states that all planets orbit in an ellipse with the sun at one focus. Use
the simulation to create a planet that orbits the sun in an ellipse. Take a screenshot of
the planet as it orbits the sun and include it in the space below. (
How do I take a
screenshot?
)
4.
What is the eccentricity of the orbit you created? Use the table below to help you
estimate the eccentricity of your own orbit.
e = 0.0
e = 0.2
e = 0.5
e = 0.7
The eccentricity of my orbit is approximately ______0.7______
5.
A circular orbit is simply an elliptical orbit with an eccentricity of 0. Use the simulation to
create a planet that orbits the sun in a perfect circle. (You can watch
this brief teacher
video for some hints
). Once you’ve created a nice circular orbit, take a screenshot of the
orbit and include it below.
KEPLER’S SECOND LAW
6.
Remove any existing planets by pressing the “Clear Spacetime” button.
7.
Change the “Simulation Mode” to Kepler’s 2nd Law. In this mode, you can set the
eccentricity to any value in the menu and then click to launch a planet into orbit.
8.
Set the eccentricity to 0.5.
9.
Launch a planet into orbit with an eccentricity of 0.5 and watch as it orbits.
10. Does the planet orbit at a constant speed?
No
11. Where does the planet move the fastest?
When it gets closer to the blue circle
12. Where does the planet move the slowest?
When it is furthest from the blue circle
13. Remove your planet by pressing the “Clear Spacetime” button.
14. Now set the eccentricity to 0 so that we can launch planets in circular orbits.
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