Prepared by

Ahmed Badawy Yassen

 Lecture Contents


 Elliptical Orbits.

 Circular Orbits.

 Parabolic Trajectories.

Hyperbolic Trajectories.
 Trajectory Equation


 In this equation, which is mathematically identical in form to the
trajectory equation, p is a geometrical constant of the conic called the
"parameter" or "semi-latus rectum." The constant e is called the
"eccentricity" and it determines the type of conic section represented.
Conic Sections


 Elliptical Orbits

 The orbits of all the planets in the solar system as well as the orbits of all
earth satellites are ellipses.

 Since an ellipse is a closed curve an object in an elliptical orbit travels the

same path over and over.

 The time for the satellite to go once around its orbit is called the period.

 From elliptical orbits we can determined some geometrical results which

apply only to the ellipse and derive an expression for the period of an
elliptical orbit.
 Geometry of the Ellipse

 An ellipse can b e constructed using two pins and a loop of thread, Each pin
marks the location of a focus and since the length of the thread is
constant.
 Geometry of the Ellipse

 From this figure the sum of the distances from any point on an ellipse
to each focus (r + r') is a constant.
Geometry of the Ellipse

 Period of an Elliptical Orbit

 that the - horizontal component of velocity of a satellite is
simply 𝑽𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∅ which can also be expressed as 𝒓 𝝂ሶ

 we can express the specific angular

momentum of the satellite as:
𝑟 2 𝑑𝜈
ℎ=
𝑑𝑡
which, when rearranged , becomes

𝑟2
𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝜈 (6)
ℎ
 Period of an Elliptical Orbit
 specific angular momentum, h, of a satellite remains
constant along its orbit

 h is the vector cross product o f r and v
it must always be perpendicular to the
plane containing r and v.

 We can now define the direction of the

velocity vector, v, by specifying the
angle it makes with the local vertical
as (gamma), the zenith angle.
 Period of an Elliptical Orbit
 From the definition of the cross product the magnitude of h
is

 The angle between the velocity vector
and the local horizontal plane is called
(phi), the flightpath elevation angle or
simply "flightpath angle . "

 h is the vector cross product o f r and v

it must always be perpendicular to the
plane containing r and v.
Period of an Elliptical Orbit


 Period of an Elliptical Orbit

 that the - horizontal component of velocity of a satellite is
simply 𝑉cos ∅ which can also be expressed as 𝑟 𝜈ሶ
𝐴.𝐵 𝑟𝑑𝜈
v= =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Since angular momentum equal
𝑟𝑑𝜈
ℎ = 𝑟( )
𝑑𝑡
2
𝑑𝜈
ℎ=𝑟
𝑑𝑡
𝑟2
∴ 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝜈
ℎ
 Period of an Elliptical Orbit

 So, we can rewrite equation (6) as :

𝑟2
∴ 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝐴 (7)
ℎ

 Equation (7) proves Kepler's second law that "equal areas are
swept out by the radius vector in equal time intervals" since
h is a constant for an orbit.
Period of an Elliptical Orbit


Period of an Elliptical Orbit


(8)

𝑐
2 2
𝑎 = 𝑏 +𝑐 2 𝑒=
𝑎 𝑃 = 𝑎(1 − 𝑒 2 )

3
𝑎
𝑎3 𝑇 2 = 4𝜋 2
𝑇𝑃 = 2𝜋 𝐺𝑀⨁
𝜇
 Period of an Elliptical Orbit

1
2 2 3
3
𝑇 𝜇 𝑇 𝜇
𝑎 = 𝑎=
2𝜋 2𝜋
Ahmed Badawy Yassen
E- mail: Ahmed_Badawy1511@yahoo.com