Questions - Kepler's 3 Laws

Front

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

Back

Aphelion.

Front

What shape has an eccentricity of zero?

Back

A circle.

Front

What is Kepler's second law commonly known as?

Back

The Law of Areas.

Front

What does an Astronomical Unit (AU) measure?

Back

The average distance between the Sun and Earth.

Front

What is the formula for Kepler's third law?

Back

P² = a³ (or T² = a³).

Front

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

Back

Perihelion.

Front

What does eccentricity measure in an orbit?

Back

The deviation of the orbit from a perfect circle.

Front

What is the significance of Kepler's first law?

Back

It states that planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.

Front

How does the speed of a planet change according to Kepler's second law?

Back

A planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is farther away.

Front

What is the relationship between the period of a planet's orbit and its distance from the Sun according to Kepler's third law?

Back

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