Gravity and Orbits and Planets, Oh My!

Let's start out by looking at the physics behind the orbits of some artificial satellites.

• The orbit of the International Space Station
• Geosynchronous satellites

You may notice a pattern here. Can you find a relationship between the radius of an orbit and its period?

• Derive one of Kepler's Laws

We can use Kepler's Third Law everywhere -- even outside our own Solar System -- as long as we are careful. In the past few decades, astronomers have discovered some planets orbiting other stars: to so-called extra-solar planets.

• Investigating planets around other stars

For more information

• Different methods for finding extrasolar planets from an introductory astronomy course.
• A few thoughts on life on the known extra-solar planets, ditto
• The extrasolar planets encyclopedia has up-to-date information. The US mirror site may be faster.

Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.