The Sun-Planet Potential Java model plots the gravitational potential U(r) starting at the surface of Sun to two astronomical units (AUs). The planet is located at 1 AU and potential plot passes through the center of the planet assuming a constant mass density. Because Earth has a mass approximately 3 million times smaller than the mass of Sun, the program allows the user to zoom in to observe the potential near the planet. The user can also vary the planet's mass and observe the effect of planet mass on potential.
The simulation was developed using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_mech_orbits_SunEarthPotential.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.
Please note that this resource requires
at least version 1.6 of Java (JRE).
Sun-Planet Potential Source Code
The source code zip archive contains an EJS-XML representation of the Sun-Planet Potential Java model. Unzip this archive in your EJS workspace to compile and run this model using EJS. download 92kb .zip
Last Modified: February 9, 2016
6-8: 4E/M4. Energy appears in different forms and can be transformed within a system. Motion energy is associated with the speed of an object. Thermal energy is associated with the temperature of an object. Gravitational energy is associated with the height of an object above a reference point. Elastic energy is associated with the stretching or compressing of an elastic object. Chemical energy is associated with the composition of a substance. Electrical energy is associated with an electric current in a circuit. Light energy is associated with the frequency of electromagnetic waves.
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)
4. THE PHYSICAL SETTING
E. Energy Transformations
4E (9-12) #2. Heat energy in a material consists of the disordered motions of its atoms or molecules. In any interactions of atoms or molecules, the statistical odds are that they will end up with less order than they began?that is, with the heat energy spread out more evenly. With huge numbers of atoms and molecules, the greater disorder is almost certain.
W. Christian, Computer Program SUN-PLANET POTENTIAL MODEL, Version 1.0 (2016), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13976&DocID=4360).
W. Christian, Computer Program SUN-PLANET POTENTIAL MODEL, Version 1.0 (2016), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13976&DocID=4360>.
Christian, W. (2016). Sun-Planet Potential Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13976&DocID=4360
%A Wolfgang Christian %T Sun-Planet Potential Model %D February 12, 2016 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13976&DocID=4360 %O 1.0 %O application/java
%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %D February 12, 2016 %T Sun-Planet Potential Model %7 1.0 %8 February 12, 2016 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13976&DocID=4360
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