The Astronomy Center has provided educational resources to introductory astronomy educators since 2003. Over the past 20 years, the rapid pace of discovery has rendered some of our linked resources obsolete. Thus, the Astronomy Center will be decommissioned on March 1, 2022. Our highest quality resources will be retained on ComPADRE.org.
This web page demonstrates Kepler's Laws through a Flash simulation. The user places an object at some distance from the Sun and gives it an initial velocity to orbit the sun. Once the simulation begins, it shows the distance between the planet and the Sun, the days that have gone by, and the orbiting speed. An option is also available to show the areas swept out by the object in equal times. Both elliptical and parabolic trajectories are possible.
Fowler, M., & Welch, H. (2007, June 25). Planetary Motion. Retrieved December 13, 2024, from http://galileoandeinstein.phys.virginia.edu/more_stuff/Applets/Kepler/kepler.html
Fowler, Michael, and Heather Welch. Planetary Motion. June 25, 2007. http://galileoandeinstein.phys.virginia.edu/more_stuff/Applets/Kepler/kepler.html (accessed 13 December 2024).
%0 Electronic Source %A Fowler, Michael %A Welch, Heather %D June 25, 2007 %T Planetary Motion %V 2024 %N 13 December 2024 %8 June 25, 2007 %9 application/flash %U http://galileoandeinstein.phys.virginia.edu/more_stuff/Applets/Kepler/kepler.html
Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.