Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

What does an eccentricity greater than 1 indicate?

• A circular trajectory.

• An elliptical trajectory.

• A hyperbolic trajectory.

• A parabolic trajectory.

What is the major axis of an ellipse?

• The shortest diameter of the ellipse.

• The longest diameter of the ellipse.

• A line segment connecting the foci of the ellipse.

• The distance between the center and a vertex of the ellipse.

What is the significance of Kepler's First Law?

• Planets move in circular orbits around the Sun.

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

• Planets have a fixed distance from the Sun at all times.

• Planets orbit the Sun in a straight line.

What condition would produce an orbit with a greater eccentricity?

• An increase in the distance between the Sun and F2.

• A decrease in the mass of the Sun.

• An increase in the speed of the orbiting body.

• A decrease in the distance between the Sun and F2.

How do the foci of an ellipse relate to its eccentricity?

• The distance between the foci affects the eccentricity; closer foci result in lower eccentricity.

• The foci are always at the same distance from the center, regardless of eccentricity.

• Eccentricity is independent of the distance between the foci.

• Closer foci result in higher eccentricity.

How does eccentricity affect the shape of an orbit?

• Higher eccentricity means a more elongated orbit.

• Higher eccentricity means a more circular orbit.

• Higher eccentricity has no effect on the orbit shape.

• Higher eccentricity means a perfectly circular orbit.

What is the significance of Kepler's Second Law?

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

• Planets move in circular orbits around the Sun.

• The speed of a planet is constant throughout its orbit.

• The distance between a planet and the Sun remains unchanged.

What is the formula for eccentricity?

• Distance between foci / Length of major axis

• Length of major axis / Distance between foci

• Distance between foci / Length of minor axis

• Length of minor axis / Distance between foci

What is the term for the point where a planet is closest to the Sun in its orbit?

• Aphelion

• Perihelion

• Equinox

• Solstice

What does an eccentricity of 1 indicate?

• A circular trajectory.

• An elliptical trajectory.

• A parabolic trajectory.

• A hyperbolic trajectory.