What shape is the moon's orbit around Earth?
a spiral
an ellipse that is elongated
a circle
an ellipse that is almost circular
The shape of the moon's orbit around Earth is an ellipse that is almost circular.
For which project would knowledge of Kepler's laws prove most useful?
calculating the mass of Earth
measuring the distance between Earth and the moon
determining the structure of the solar system's planets
putting a communications satellite in Earth orbit
Determining the structure of the solar system's planets would most likely make use of knowledge of Kepler's laws.
A line between a planet and the sun sweeps out two equal areas at different places as it moves along its orbit. Which factor remains constant as this happens?
the distance the planet moves along its orbit while it sweeps out the area
the distance from the sun to the planet while it sweeps out the areas
the planet’s speed as it sweeps out the areas
the time required to sweep out the areas
The planet's speed as it sweeps out the areas remains constant.
Which did Kepler notice about planetary motion that caused him to propose Kepler’s first law of orbital motion?
The planets have circular orbits.
The distance between Mars and the sun is constant.
The distance to the sun varies.
Most planets have highly elliptical orbits.
Kepler noticed that most planets have highly elliptical orbits, which led him to propose Kepler's first law of orbital motion.
Which is a feature of Copernicus's model of the solar system?
The planets move in perfect circles.
All planets orbit the Sun at the same speed.
The outer planets move in epicycles.
Earth is fixed to a crystalline sphere.
A feature of Copernicus's model of the solar system is that the planets move in perfect circles.
. Kepler's second law of planetary motion leads to the fact that when a planet is closest to the sun it moves faster in its orbit than when it is farther away.
True
False
True. Kepler's second law of planetary motion, also known as the Law of Equal Areas, states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals. This means that when a planet is closer to the sun (perihelion), it covers a larger distance in its orbit in a given time period, resulting in faster motion. Conversely, when it is farther away from the sun (aphelion), the distance covered in the same time interval is smaller, leading to slower motion.
Which of the following statements about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is true?
Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects increases.
Gravitational force increases as mass of objects decreases.
Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases.
The theory applies only to objects on Earth.
The true statement about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is: Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases.
Which statements about the geocentric model is false?
It shows the orbits of the planets as circular.
It shows Earth at the center of the solar system.
It shows the Sun at the center of the solar system.
The false statement about the geocentric model is: It shows the Sun at the center of the solar system.
An asteroid approaches Jupiter and is slung around into a new trajectory across the solar system. Which of the following is possible?
The asteroid slows down as it passes around Jupiter.
The asteroid continues out of the solar system.
The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape.
The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter.