Kepler's Laws Quiz

What does Kepler's First Law, also known as the Law of Ellipses, state about the orbits of planets?

• Planets move in circular orbits with the Sun at the center.

• Planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one of the focal points.

• Planets move in a perfect circular motion around the Earth.

• Planets move in random paths that change annually.

Kepler's Second Law, the Law of Equal Areas, implies which of the following about planetary motion?

• A planet's orbit around the Sun covers equal areas in equal times.

• A planet's speed decreases as it moves away from the Sun.

• A planet's speed is constant throughout its orbit.

• The area swept by a planet in its orbit is proportional to the cube of its period.

According to Kepler's Third Law, the square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to what?

• The cube of the average distance from the Sun.

• The square of the average distance from the Sun.

• The radius of the orbit.

• The diameter of the orbit.

Which of the following best describes the shape of the orbits dictated by Kepler's First Law?

• Circular

• Elliptical

• Hyperbolic

• Parabolic

How does Kepler's Second Law support the idea of conservation of angular momentum?

• By showing that planets move fastest when they are closest to the Sun.

• By proving that the angular momentum of a planet remains constant as it orbits the Sun.

• By indicating that planets generate more angular momentum as they move away from the Sun.

• By demonstrating that the angular momentum decreases as the planet's orbit increases.

What is the relationship between the orbital period and the distance of a planet from the Sun according to Kepler's Third Law?

• Directly proportional

• Inversely proportional

• Proportional to the square of the distance

• Proportional to the cube of the distance

Which statement is true according to Kepler's First Law?

• The Sun is at the center of each planet's orbit.

• The Sun is at the exact middle point between the foci of the elliptical orbit.

• The Sun is located at one of the two foci of the elliptical orbit.

• All planetary orbits are perfect circles.

Kepler's Second Law implies that a planet will travel fastest in its orbit at which point?

• At the farthest point from the Sun.

• At the nearest point to the Sun.

• When it is exactly halfway between its closest and farthest points from the Sun.

• Speed remains constant throughout the orbit.

Using Kepler's Third Law, how would the orbital period change if the distance from the Sun to the planet triples?

• It would increase by a factor of three.

• It would increase by a factor of nine.

• It would increase by a factor of twenty-seven.

• It remains the same regardless of distance.

What does Kepler's Second Law also known as the Law of Areas, suggest about the velocity of a planet in its orbit?

• The velocity increases as the planet approaches the Sun.

• The velocity decreases as the planet moves away from the Sun.

• Both A and B are correct.

• The velocity is constant throughout the orbit.