KEPLER’S LAWS OF PLANETARY MOTION

LAW OF ELLIPSES
“All planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun as one of the focal points.”

LAW OF EQUAL AREAS JOHANNES KEPLER

“A line joining the Sun and a planet sweeps out equal areas at equal length of time.”

LAW OF PERIODS
“The square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the average
distance of the planet from the Sun.”

𝑡12 𝑑13
2 = 3 t = kr
2 3 A B

𝑡 2 𝑑2
1. Satellite A, at a distance of 6.0 units, orbits a planet in 2.0 weeks. Satellite B orbits it in 7.0 weeks. How far
is it from the planet?
GIVEN: d23=d13 t22
Satellite A Satellite B t 12
d1= 6.0 units d2= ?
t1= 2.0 weeks t2= 7.0 weeks d23=(6units)3 (7weeks)2
(2weeks)2
UNKNOWN: d2= ?
d23=(216units3)( 49weeks2)
EQUATION: 𝑡12 𝑑13 4weeks2
=
𝑡22 𝑑23
d23=(10, 584units3)
SOLUTION: 𝑡12 𝑑13 4
= t12 d23=d13 t22
𝑡22 𝑑23 d23 = 2, 646 units3

t12 d23= d13 t22 3

d2 3= 3 2, 646 units3 d2=13.83 units
t 12 t 12
2. Galileo is often credited with the early discovery of four moons of Jupiter. The moons orbiting Jupiter follow
the same laws of motion as the planets orbiting the sun. One of the moons is called Io- its distance from
Jupiter’s center is 4.2 units and it orbits in 1.8 Earth-days. Another moon is called Ganymede; it is 10.7 units from
Jupiter’s center. Make a prediction of the period of Ganymede using Kepler’s law of harmonies.
GIVEN: t22 =t12 d23
Io Ganymede d 13
d1= 4.2 units d2= 10.7 units
t1= 1.8 days t2= ? t22= (1.8 days)2 (10.7 units)3
(4.2 units)3
UNKNOWN: t2= ?
2 3 t 2
2 =(3.24 days2)( 1225.04 units 3)
EQUATION: 𝑡1 =𝑑1
2
𝑡2 𝑑2 3 74.09 units 3

𝑡12 𝑑13 t22 = (3969.13 days2)

SOLUTION: = t12 d23=d13 t22 74.09
𝑡22 𝑑23
t22 = 53.57 days2
t12 d23= d13 t22
d 13 d 13 t22= 53.57 days2 t2=7.32 days
 KEPLER’S LAWS OF PLANETARY MOTION
LAW OF ELLIPSES
“All planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun as one of the focal points.”

LAW OF EQUAL AREAS JOHANNES KEPLER

“A line joining the Sun and a planet sweeps out equal areas at equal length of time.”

LAW OF PERIODS
“The square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the average
distance of the planet from the Sun.”

𝑡12 𝑑13
2 = 3 t = kr
2 3 A B

𝑡 2 𝑑2
Constant value for all the planet: k = 2.977 x 10-19 s2/m3
 Period Average T2/R3
Planet
(yr) Distance (au) (yr2/au3)
Mercury 0.241 0.39 0.98
Venus .615 0.72 1.01
Earth 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mars 1.88 1.52 1.01
Jupiter 11.8 5.20 0.99
Saturn 29.5 9.54 1.00
Uranus 84.0 19.18 1.00
Neptune 165 30.06 1.00
Pluto 248 39.44 1.00

Period Average T2/R3

Planet
(s) Distance (m) (s2/m3)
Mercury 7.60 x 106 5.834 x 1010 2.908 x 10-19
Venus 1.939 x 107 1.08 x 1011 2.984 x 10-19
Earth 3.156 x 107 1.4957 x 1011 2.977 x 10-19
Mars 5.93 x 107 2.278 x 1011 2.975 x 10-19

Constant value for all the planet: 2.977 x 10-19 s2/m3

SAMPLE PROBLEM #4:
Applying the equation learned, answer the following problems:
3. What is the period of evolution (in seconds) of Jupiter around the sun if the mean distance
between them is 7.80 x 10^11 m?
Solution t 2 = kr3
Given r = 7.80 x 1011 m
k = 2.977 x 10-19 s2/m3 t 2 = (2.977 x 10-19 s2/m3) (7.80 x 1011 m) 3
Unknown
t 2 = (2.977 x 10-19 s2/m3) (4.746 x 1035 m 3)
t=?
𝑡 = 1.413 x 10 17 s2
Equation
t2 = kr3 Answer t = 375898922.6 s
= 3. 759 x 108 s
SAMPLE PROBLEM #5:
Applying the equation learned, answer the following problems:
4. The period of Neptune is 164.8 years. What is its distance from the sun in astronomical unit?

Solution d3 = t2 / k
Given t = 164.8 years
k = 1 yr2/au3 d3 = (164.8 years)2 /(1 yr2/au3 )
Unknown d3 = (27159.04 years2) / (1 yr2/au3 )
d=? 3 3
Equation 𝑑= 27159.04 au3
t2 = kr3 Answer 𝑑 = 30.06 𝑎𝑢
k=k
THANK YOU! 