Keplers Laws

Front

What is Kepler's First Law?

Back

A planet moves in an elliptical orbit with the Sun at one of the two foci.

Front

What does Kepler's Second Law state?

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

Define eccentricity in the context of orbits.

Back

Eccentricity is a measure of how much an orbit deviates from being circular; it ranges from 0 (circle) to 1 (parabola).

Front

What is the shape of a planet's orbit according to Kepler's Laws?

Back

An ellipse.

Front

What are the two points called that define the foci of an ellipse?

Back

Foci.

Front

What happens to a planet's speed as it approaches the Sun?

Back

The planet moves faster as it gets closer to the Sun.

Front

What happens to a planet's speed when it is farthest from the Sun?

Back

The planet moves slower when it is farthest from the Sun.

Front

What is the eccentricity of a circle?

Back

0.

Front

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

Back

Perihelion.