Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion and Newton's Law of Gravity Flashcards
How does the mass of two objects affect their force of gravitational attraction?
The more mass each object has, the greater the gravitational attraction between them.
How does the separation distance between two objects affect their force of gravitational attraction?
The smaller the separation distance, the larger the gravitational force. It follows an inverse square law.
What does Newton’s Third Law say about the gravitational force of attraction between two objects?
The gravitational force of object 1 on object 2 is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the gravitational force of object 2 on object 1.
If two planets have relatively the same density, how does the volume of the planet compare to the planet’s mass?
The larger planet will have more mass if both planets have relatively the same density.
According to Kepler’s first law, how do planets orbit the Sun?
The orbits of the planets are elliptical with the Sun at one foci.
Applying Kepler’s second law, how does the separation distance between the Sun and the planet relate to its velocity?
When the planet is closest to the Sun, it will move with its highest velocity. When the planet is furthest from the Sun, the planet will move with its slowest velocity.
What term describes when the planet is closest to the Sun?
Perihelion
What term describes when the planet is furthest from the Sun?
Aphelion
What does Kepler’s second law state about areas traced by a line between the planet and the Sun?
Kepler’s second law states that a line between the planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal time.
What does Kepler’s Third Law state about the relationship between the planet’s separation distance to the Sun and its orbital period?
The further away the planet is from the Sun, the longer its orbital period.
