keplers laws

Front

What shape do planets orbit the Sun in?

Back

Ellipse

Front

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

Back

Aphelion

Front

What does Kepler's first law state about the shape of planetary orbits?

Back

The orbits of the planets are ellipses.

Front

What term describes the spinning of the Earth on its axis?

Back

Rotation

Front

What term describes the time it takes for Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?

Back

Revolution

Front

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

Back

Perihelion

Front

What is the focus in relation to an ellipse?

Back

The two fixed points used to define an ellipse.

Front

What is Kepler's second law?

Back

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

Front

What is Kepler's third law?

Back

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

Front

What is the semi-major axis of an ellipse?

Back

The longest radius of an ellipse, half the length of the major axis.