4.04 Kepler Lab MOD 25-26

Last updated about 3 hours ago

9 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

Required

2

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4

HS-ESS1-4

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HS-ESS1-4

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HS-ESS1-4

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HS-ESS1-4

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0

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HS-ESS1-4

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HS-ESS1-4

Library

4.04 Kepler Lab MOD 25-26

Last updated about 3 hours ago

9 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

Required

2

Required

4

The eccentricity of an ellipse describes how “flattened” it is.
A circle has an eccentricity of 0.
A flat line segment has an eccentricity of 1.
In the image above, when eccentricity = 0.01, the ellipse is almost a perfect circle.  The closer the eccentricity gets to 1, the more flattened the ellipse becomes.
Examine the eccentricity of each planet's orbit.
Eccentricity
Mercury          0.206
Venus              0.007
Earth               0.093
Mars                0.048
Jupiter             0.054
Saturn             0.046
Uranus            0.046
Neptune          0.01
Pluto                0.248

Which has the least eccentric (most circular) orbit? __________
Which has the most eccentric (most elliptical) orbit? __________

HS-ESS1-4

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HS-ESS1-4

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HS-ESS1-4

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2

HS-ESS1-4

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0

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Orbital radius (distance from the Sun) is measured in Astronomical Units (AU).  

1 AU = the distance from the Earth to the Sun

Period is measured in Earth years. 1 Earth year = 365 Earth days

                     Orbital radius (AU)       Period (Earth years)
Mercury      0.387                               0.24
Venus          0.723                               0.62
Earth             1                                      1
Mars             1.52                               1.88
Jupiter          5.2                                 11.86
Saturn          9.55                               29.46
Uranus         19.2                               84.01
Neptune      30.1                               164.79
Pluto            39.529                           248.54

What happens to the period as the orbital radius increases?

As the orbital radius increases, the period __________

HS-ESS1-4

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2

HS-ESS1-4

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Draggable item		Corresponding Item

HS-ESS1-4

Part 1: First Law

Kepler’s first law states that an orbit is in the shape of a slightly flattened circle, or ellipse. While a circle contains a single point at its center, an ellipse contains two critical points, called foci (singular: focus). The Sun is located at one focus of a planet’s orbit.

Observe the orbits of the inner planets around the Sun. Mercury's orbit is in red.

What do you notice about Mercury's orbit?

Is Mercury always the same distance from the sun?

Yes

No

The eccentricity of an ellipse describes how “flattened” it is.
A circle has an eccentricity of 0.
A flat line segment has an eccentricity of 1.
In the image above, when eccentricity = 0.01, the ellipse is almost a perfect circle.  The closer the eccentricity gets to 1, the more flattened the ellipse becomes.
Examine the eccentricity of each planet's orbit.
Eccentricity
Mercury          0.206
Venus              0.007
Earth               0.093
Mars                0.048
Jupiter             0.054
Saturn             0.046
Uranus            0.046
Neptune          0.01
Pluto                0.248

Which has the least eccentric (most circular) orbit? __________
Which has the most eccentric (most elliptical) orbit? __________

Part 2: Second Law

Observe Mercury's orbit played at different speeds:

What do you notice about Mercury's speed as it orbits the Sun?

Mercury travels at a constant speed

Mercury speeds up when it gets closer to the Sun and slows down when it is farther away from the Sun

Mercury slows down when it gets closer to the Sun and speeds up when it is farther away from the Sun

Kepler’s second law states that a planet speeds up as it gets closer to the Sun, and slows down as it moves farther away.

Observe Pluto (orbit in red). Does Pluto follow Kepler’s second law?

Yes

No

The image below shows Pluto in its counterclockwise orbit around the Sun. Pluto's orbit is highlighted in red. Which of the following statements is true?

Pluto is speeding up.

Pluto is slowing down.

Pluto travels at the same speed throughout its orbit.

Part 3: Third Law

Kepler’s third law describes the relationship between a planet’s orbital radius, or its average distance from the Sun, and the planet’s period, or amount of time to complete an orbit.

How do you think the period of a planet will change as its distance from the Sun increases?

Increases

Decreases

Stays the same

Orbital radius (distance from the Sun) is measured in Astronomical Units (AU).  

1 AU = the distance from the Earth to the Sun

Period is measured in Earth years. 1 Earth year = 365 Earth days

                     Orbital radius (AU)       Period (Earth years)
Mercury      0.387                               0.24
Venus          0.723                               0.62
Earth             1                                      1
Mars             1.52                               1.88
Jupiter          5.2                                 11.86
Saturn          9.55                               29.46
Uranus         19.2                               84.01
Neptune      30.1                               164.79
Pluto            39.529                           248.54

What happens to the period as the orbital radius increases?

As the orbital radius increases, the period __________

Suppose a new planet was discovered orbiting the Sun between Neptune and Uranus. What would you predict its period would be?

Between 29 and 84 Earth years

Between 84 and 164 Earth years

Between 11 and 29 Earth years

Summarize Kepler's Laws.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
3rd Law (Law of Harmonies)
1st Law (Law of Ellipses)
2nd Law (Law of Equal Areas)

Part 1: First Law

Kepler’s first law states that an orbit is in the shape of a slightly flattened circle, or ellipse. While a circle contains a single point at its center, an ellipse contains two critical points, called foci (singular: focus). The Sun is located at one focus of a planet’s orbit.

Observe the orbits of the inner planets around the Sun.  Mercury's orbit is in red.

What do you notice about Mercury's orbit?

Is Mercury always the same distance from the sun?

Yes

No

Part 2: Second Law

Observe Mercury's orbit played at different speeds:

What do you notice about Mercury's speed as it orbits the Sun?

Mercury travels at a constant speed

Mercury speeds up when it gets closer to the Sun and slows down when it is farther away from the Sun

Mercury slows down when it gets closer to the Sun and speeds up when it is farther away from the Sun

Kepler’s second law states that a planet speeds up as it gets closer to the Sun, and slows down as it moves farther away.

Observe Pluto (orbit in red). Does Pluto follow Kepler’s second law?

Yes

No

The image below shows Pluto in its counterclockwise orbit around the Sun. Pluto's orbit is highlighted in red. Which of the following statements is true?

Pluto is speeding up.

Pluto is slowing down.

Pluto travels at the same speed throughout its orbit.

Part 3: Third Law

Kepler’s third law describes the relationship between a planet’s orbital radius, or its average distance from the Sun, and the planet’s period, or amount of time to complete an orbit.

How do you think the period of a planet will change as its distance from the Sun increases?

Increases

Decreases

Stays the same

Suppose a new planet was discovered orbiting the Sun between Neptune and Uranus.  What would you predict its period would be?

Between 29 and 84 Earth years

Between 84 and 164 Earth years

Between 11 and 29 Earth years

Summarize Kepler's Laws.

3rd Law (Law of Harmonies)

1st Law (Law of Ellipses)

2nd Law (Law of Equal Areas)

4.04 Kepler Lab MOD 25-26

4.04 Kepler Lab MOD 25-26

Part 2: Second LawObserve Mercury's orbit played at different speeds:What do you notice about Mercury's speed as it orbits the Sun?

Kepler’s second law states that a planet speeds up as it gets closer to the Sun, and slows down as it moves farther away.Observe Pluto (orbit in red). Does Pluto follow Kepler’s second law?

The image below shows Pluto in its counterclockwise orbit around the Sun. Pluto's orbit is highlighted in red. Which of the following statements is true?

Part 3: Third LawKepler’s third law describes the relationship between a planet’s orbital radius, or its average distance from the Sun, and the planet’s period, or amount of time to complete an orbit.How do you think the period of a planet will change as its distance from the Sun increases?

Suppose a new planet was discovered orbiting the Sun between Neptune and Uranus. What would you predict its period would be?

Summarize Kepler's Laws.

Part 2: Second Law

Observe Mercury's orbit played at different speeds:

What do you notice about Mercury's speed as it orbits the Sun?

Kepler’s second law states that a planet speeds up as it gets closer to the Sun, and slows down as it moves farther away.

Observe Pluto (orbit in red). Does Pluto follow Kepler’s second law?