What are Keplers Law for planetory motion
Kepler’s laws of planetary motion are three laws formulated by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century. These laws describe the motion of planets around the Sun and have since played a crucial role in understanding the mechanics of the solar system. The three laws are:
1. The Law of Ellipses: Kepler’s first law states that the orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of its focal points. In other words, the planet does not move in a perfect circle but rather follows an elliptical path.
2. The Law of Equal Areas: Kepler’s second law states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals. This means that a planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is farther away.
3. The Law of Harmonies: Kepler’s third law states that the square of a planet’s orbital period is directly proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun. In other words, the farther a planet is from the Sun, the longer it takes to complete one orbit around it.
These laws helped pave the way for Isaac Newton’s universal law of gravitation and were fundamental in establishing the heliocentric model of the solar system. They also provided a solid foundation for future advancements in celestial mechanics and planetary exploration.