Ellipses and Kepler's Laws

Front

What is the term for the point in a planet's orbit where it is closest to the Sun?

Back

Perihelion

Front

What is the term for the spinning of the Earth on its axis?

Back

Rotation

Front

What shape has an eccentricity of zero?

Back

A circle

Front

How does a planet's speed change when it is farthest from the Sun?

Back

It moves slower.

Front

What celestial body is at the center of a heliocentric system?

Back

The Sun.

Front

What is the term for the longest distance between a planet and the Sun in its orbit?

Back

Aphelion

Front

What is Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion?

Back

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

Front

What does the eccentricity of an orbit measure?

Back

The deviation of the orbit from a perfect circle.

Front

What is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun called?

Back

Astronomical Unit (AU)

Front

What is Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion?

Back

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