Download Understanding Keplers Law Worksheet

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Date_____________________________
Understanding Kepler’s Laws
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Each planet orbits the Sun in a shape called an ellipse.
o An ellipse is an oval shape that is centered on two points called the foci instead of a
single point, as in a circle.
Kepler’s 1st Law
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An astronomical unit (AU), is the average distance between the ____________________.
According to the video Kepler’s 1st Law states that:
Eccentricity
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A planet in an elliptical orbit is not at a constant distance from the Sun.
Perihelion is when a planet is at the closest point to the Sun in its orbit.
Aphelion is when a planet is farthest point from the Sun during its orbit.
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Date_____________________________
Eccentricity Notes:
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Kepler’s Second Law:
Kepler’s second law states that because a planet moves _____________ when close to the Sun
and ________________when far from the Sun, equal areas are swept out in equal amount of
time.
Draw A Picture Representing Kepler’s Law:
Notes from Video:
Kepler’s 3rd Law:
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Kepler also found that ____________ of the orbital period (P) equals the cube of the semi major
axis of the orbital ellipse (a).
P2=a3
Notes from Video: