Gravity & Orbits

Follow all the procedures described below. Write enter your answers directly
below the questions using a bold and easy-to-read font.
Planets or other objects orbiting a star are accelerating -- they are
continually changing direction. The force that produces this acceleration is
the gravitational attraction to the star. In this activity we will use a
simulation to observe and learn about these orbits and relate them to
Keplers laws.
Open the simulation at:
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/gravity-and-orbits
Use the cartoon tab. The settings on the right should be for Earth and Our
Sun. Begin the activity with original values. Hit Reset if theyve shifted. Click
on: Gravity Force, Velocity, Path and Grid.
1. Note that the blue force arrow on Earth is the same size as the blue force
arrow on the Sun. Why is this so? What law(s) is (are) being illustrated?
2. What direction is the velocity of the orbiting object?
3. If you turn gravity off, what happens? Why does this happen?
4. Hit the start arrow and observe the path. Measure the time for one period of
revolution. (You may have to practice stopping at one period and you may
want to slow the Sim speed.)
Slide the Planet selector to the left. You will be maintaining the distance to
the Sun but replacing Earth with a planet having a smaller mass.
5. Hit start and carefully observe. Describe the shape of the orbit (how has it
changed?) and determine the period.
6. Slide the Planet selector to the right. You will be maintaining the distance
to the Sun but replacing Earth with a planet having a larger mass.
7. Hit start and carefully observe. Describe the shape of the orbit (how has it
changed?) and determine the period.

RESET
Slide the Star selector to the left. You will be maintaining the distance
between the Sun and the Earth, but replacing the Sun with a star having a
smaller mass.
8. Hit start and carefully observe. Describe the shape of the orbit (how has it
changed?) and determine the period.
Slide the Star selector to the right. You will be maintaining the distance
between the Sun and the Earth, but replacing the Sun with a star having a
larger mass.
9. Hit start and carefully observe. Describe the shape of the orbit (how has it
changed?) and determine the period.

RESET
According to Keplers third law, The time it takes for one complete orbit is
proportional to the mean distance between the centers of two bodies. T2
r3. When a constant is included, the equation is

10.
Use the adjustable mass controls on the simulation of just the earth
and sun to determine what mass the m in Keplers equation must refer to.
Is it the mass of the orbiting object or the mass of the central object?
Kepler actually proposed three laws.

An Illustration of Keplers 1st and 2nd Laws is Shown here:

A1=A2. In this case you can see that when a planet is closer to the sun then
it must cover more distance in the same time.
Reset all. Select the Earth and Sun. Choose to show only the path and
velocities. Manipulate the Simulation until you achieve an elliptical orbit.
11.

What do you see on the simulation that verifies Keplers Second Law?

12.
Carefully observe the force vector. Describe what you observe about
the force at different locations in the orbit. Why do you think the force
changes? Which of Newtons laws did this illustrate?

RESET
Run the Simulation, Keep all the default settings, but select the Earth and
Satellite option. Turn on all of the options in the Show menu.
13.
Alter the mass of the Satellite. Does the mass of the satellite have any
impact on its Orbit? Explain.
Pause the Simulation. Hit Reset. Click and drag the v at the end of the
red velocity in order to decrease the satellites velocity.
14.
What happens when you hit play? Why?

15.

Why doesnt this happen to satellites normally?

Pause the Simulation. Hit Reset. Click and drag to increase the satellites
velocity.
16.

What happens when you hit play? Why?

Pause the Simulation. Hit Reset. Click and drag the satellite itself to move
it further away from earth.
17.

What happens when you hit play? Why?

Pause the Simulation. Hit Reset. On the top left tabs, change your view so
that you are to scale. In the Show menu, you can now also turn on the Tape
Measure. Run the simulation, with the path shown.
18.

How far out is the satellite?

19.

How long does it take for the satellite to orbit earth?

20.
Try to create another stable orbit that is further or closer to earth.
Post a screenshot here. What other very important variable is altered with
this new orbit?

RESET
21.
View the Sun, Earth & Moon in Cartoon mode. Include a screenshot
showing their paths for one full year.
22.
Why does the path of the moon not appear to make circles (around the
Earth)?

Part 2: PRactice

1. The mass of the moon is 7.35x1022kg and the mass of the earth is
5.97x1024kg. The moons orbit distance is 3.84x108m. What is the
gravitational force on the moon by the earth? What is the gravitational force
of the earth on the moon?
2. What is the centripetal acceleration of the moon around the earth, realizing
that the gravitational force is the centripetal force?
3. What is the speed of the moon as it travels around the Earth?
4. Imagine another solar system with a star of the same mass as the Sun. In
this solar system there is a planet with a mass twice that of Earth orbiting at
a distance of 1 AU from the star. What is the orbital period of that planet?
Explain your answer based on what you observed in this activity.
5. As a planet orbits the Sun in an ellipse, at what point on the ellipse is the
Suns gravitational force on it greatest? Explain your reasoning.
6. At what point is the acceleration the greatest? Explain.