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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Physics => Topic started by: edwardo on March 06, 2012, 05:06:18 pm

Title: Physics gravity prac
Post by: edwardo on March 06, 2012, 05:06:18 pm

Hey I'm doing this gravity prac on excel and one of the questions is how does T²/R³ and R³/T² for the orbit of jupiter's or neptune's satellites differ from Saturn's satellites orbit? Use Kepler's laws to explain.

I think that it is because T(the period) and R(the orbital radius) are all different for the satellites so that would result in a different constant. But how could I explain this in terms of Kepler's laws?

Title: Re: Physics gravity prac
Post by: yawho on March 07, 2012, 09:16:24 pm

Quote from: edwardo on March 06, 2012, 05:06:18 pm

Hey I'm doing this gravity prac on excel and one of the questions is how does T²/R³ and R³/T² for the orbit of jupiter's or neptune's satellites differ from Saturn's satellites orbit? Use Kepler's laws to explain.

I think that it is because T(the period) and R(the orbital radius) are all different for the satellites so that would result in a different constant. But how could I explain this in terms of Kepler's laws?

R³/T² is directly proportional to the mass of the planet at the centre of the satellite orbits. The masses of jupiter, neptune and saturn are all different, therefore R³/T² are different for the planets.