Physics of the Solar System The way things move
The Solar System All objects orbit counterclockwise around the Sun They move at different speeds over different distances
The path one object takes when revolving around another object. Orbits The path one object takes when revolving around another object.
Circles A circle has only one focus
Ellipse Made in the same way but has two foci
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion The orbits of the planets are ellipses, with the Sun at one focus.
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion 2. Planets move faster in their orbit when they get closer to the Sun.
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion 3. Planets closer to the sun move faster than planets further away.
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion
Most of Kepler’s Laws can be explained with gravity Laws of Gravitation Most of Kepler’s Laws can be explained with gravity Without the gravity of the sun, planets would move in a straight line.
Laws of Gravitation m1*m2 G = ------------ d2