Dynamics of Circular Motion and the Gravitational Field 3

KEPLER’S LAWS OF MOTION

Kepler found important regularities in the motion of the planets. These regularities are
known as ‘Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion’.
(i) Shape of the Orbit: All planets move around the sun in elliptical orbits having
the sun at one focus of the orbit. This is the law of orbits.
(ii) Velocity of the orbit: A line joining any planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas
in equal times, that is, the areal speed of the planet remains constant. This is the
law of areas. When the planet is nearest the sun then its speed is maximum and
when it is farthest from the sun then its speed is minimum. In Figure 11, if a planet
moves from A to B in a given time-interval, and from C to D in the same time-
interval, then the areas ASB and CSD will be equal.
B A

S
D

Fig. 11
(iii) Time periods of Planets: The square of the period of revolution of any planet
around the sun is directly proportional to the cube of its mean distance from the
sun. This is the law of periods.
If the period of a planet around the sun is T and the mean radius of its orbit is r,
then
T 2 ∝ r3
or T 2 = Kr3
where K is a constant. Thus, larger the distance of a planet from the sun, larger
will be its period of revolution around the sun.

DERIVATION OF LAW OF GRAVITATION

Suppose the mass of the planet A is M1, the radius of its orbit is R1 and time period of
revolution is T1. It is assumed that the orbit is circular. The force of attraction exerted by
the sun on the planet (centripetal force)

F1 = M1R1ω12 = M1R1
LM 2π OP2

NT Q
...(i)
1

Similarly for a second planet B of mass M2, Radius R2 and period of revolution round the
sun T2

F2 = M2R2ω22 = M2R2
LM 2π OP 2

NT Q
...(ii)
2