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Table of Contents
Kepler's Third Law
Expanding Kepler's Third Law
Lesson Summary
In the previous lesson we learned how semimajor axis and orbital period are proportional. Now, we're connecting the mass of the object being orbited to the semimajor axis and orbital period.
Planet Matching Practice
Lesson Summary
This activity gives kids practice with the new and improved version of Kepler's Third Law. In the previous online lab they had to find the semimajor axis and orbital period of Moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune and found out the relationship between the semimajor axis, orbital period and mass of object being orbited. However, the numbers were not very friendly to say the least. This activity gives them more practice with that and they'll be able to deal with “friendlier” numbers.
Which planet orbits which object?
Create your own Solar System Project
Create your own Solar System Rubric
Here are parameters for Orbital Periods which will have the students solve for semimajor axis, and the rankings from MOST to LEAST Elliptical. You might need to print multiple copies of these depending on how many students you have.