Keplers Laws Flashcard

Front

What shape do planets orbit the Sun in?

Back

Ellipse

Front

What is the path a planet travels around the sun called?

Back

Orbit

Front

Which hemisphere experiences summer when a planet is at position A?

Back

Northern hemisphere

Front

What does Kepler's 2nd Law state?

Back

During a planet's orbit, the planet will sweep out equal areas in its orbit in equal amounts of time.

Front

What are the two points around which an ellipse is drawn called?

Back

Foci

Front

What is Kepler's 1st Law?

Back

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

Front

What is the point in a planet's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun called?

Back

Aphelion

Front

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

Back

Perihelion

Front

What is the term for the average distance of a planet from the Sun?

Back

Semi-major axis

Front

What does Kepler's 3rd Law relate?

Back

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