Model the Orbital Motion of Planets CERC (1/20/2026)

Recall the core ideas from our laboratory background reading:

• The Sun is a massive star at the center of our solar system.

• Gravity is a non-contact force that pulls objects with mass towards each other.

• Orbits of planets are elliptical, but can be simplified to circular trajectories.

• Centripetal force is the force that makes an object move in a circle.

• A specific orbital speed is required to balance the inertia of the planet and its gravitational attraction to the sun.

• Distance and mass can affect the orbital speed of the planet.