Two-body orbital mechanics (Kepler’s Laws, conic section orbits) Flashcards
1
Q
What is Kepler’s 1st Law?
A
The orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
2
Q
What is Kepler’s Second Law?
A
The line from the Sun to a Planet sweeps out equal areas inside the ellipse in equal lengths in time.
3
Q
What is Kepler’s Third Law?
A
The squares of the orbital periods the planets are proportional to the cubes of their mean distances from the Sun.
Describes the mean motion.
