Download Ellipse and Keplers Laws webquest 2

Ellipse and Keplers Law’s Webquest
Use the URL to help you answer the following questions
http://www.windows2universe.org/physical_science/physics/mechanics/orbit/orbit_shape_interactive.html
1. What is one astronomical unit?
2. Set the animation to a semi-major axis of 1.5 AU and an eccentricity of 0.5.
Is the planet closer to the sun at certain points and farther at others?
What is the point of closest approach to the sun known as?
What is the point of furthest approach to the sun known as?
3. Slide the eccentricity and semi-major axis so that it matches up with Earth’s orbit.
What is the value for the semi-major axis?
What is the value for eccentricity?
4. Use the link below to learn about the eccentricity of comet orbits.
http://www.windows2universe.org/comets/comet_model_interactive.html
How do the orbits of comets differ from planetary orbits?
When is a comets tail longest?
What blows the tails of the comet out?
What are two major factors that describe a comets orbit?
5. Use the link below to summarize Kepler’s First Law of Motion:
http://www.windows2universe.org/the_universe/uts/kepler1.html
6. Use the link below to summarize Kepler’s Second Law of Motion:
http://www.windows2universe.org/the_universe/uts/kepler2.html
7. Use the link below to summarize Kepler’s Third Law of Motion:
http://www.windows2universe.org/the_universe/uts/kepler3.html
Use the links below to answer the below
8. Define a Day: http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2010/09/four-seasons.aspx
9. Define a Year: http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2012/01/what-is-a-year.aspx
10. Define why we have 4 seasons: http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2010/09/fourseasons.aspx
Your age on other worlds- Use the URL below to find out your age and birth date is on at least 3 other planets.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/age/index.html
A. planet:
age:
birth date:
B. planet:
age:
birth date:
C. planet:
age:
birth date: