PLANETARY MOTION

Objectives:
 Describe the orbits formed by planets moving around a star
 Graph the elliptical orbits of planets

PART I. PLANET SIMULATION

Some planets move around the sun in near-circular orbits. Others follow elliptical orbits. Some are located very near the sun while
others are millions of kilometers away. The question that may naturally come to mind would be why? Why do planets behave this way?
Why do planetary orbits differ in shape and size?

In this activity, you’ll get to explore possibilities that lead to planets orbiting a star using the simulation “Planet Simulation”.

Procedure:
1. Download the app “Planet Simulation” from the App Store
2. Launch the app
3. The default simulation shows an earth-like planet moving around a star in a circular orbit
4. Make sure you have the following settings before exploring the simulation:
a. Size is at L – This would allow you to place planet-like objects anywhere in space
b. Color is set at different colors
c. Movement is set at circle (other settings include Target and Random)
5. After configuring the setting, tap anywhere on the screen to place a planet
6. Observe the following:
a. Effect of the additional planet on the motion of the earth-like planet
b. Comparative speeds of the two planets relative to their distance from the central star
7. Change the movement setting to Target and perform the following:
a. Tap on the screen to place a planet; observe what happens
b. Tap on the screen to place another planet, but instead of releasing it drag on the screen until it displays a red
direction indicator
c. Release the planet and observe what happens
d. Place planets around the star at different locations and at different orbital speeds
e. Have at least three planets move around the sun without them plummeting into the sun or colliding with each other
f. Make a sketch of your three-planet solar system and draw an approximate orbit for each of the planets.
g. Based on what you did to form your solar system, formulate two generalizations on how planetary orbits are formed
and how they vary.

Figure 4.1. Sketch of Solar System

GENERALIZATIONS

PART II. GRAPHING ELLIPTICAL ORBITS

Objectives:

1
  Demonstrate the relationship between the distance between the foci of an ellipse, the length of the major axis, and the
eccentricity of the ellipse.
 Infer how planets really move in their orbits.
 Speculate on what life would be like on a planet with a very elliptical orbit and on whether life would even be possible there.

Materials

 One piece of cardboard (1/4 illustration board)

 Two pins or thumbtacks
 Colored pencils
 Bond paper, long
 Several lengths of string
 Scissors
 A ruler
 A calculator

Figure 4.2. Setup for drawing an ellipse

Procedure

1. Place the bond paper on top of the cardboard so the long dimension runs from left to right. From the top left corner, measure
down half of the width of the paper, then measure to the right 10 cm. Mark this point with a dot, push a pin through the dot into
the cardboard, and label it “Sun.” Do not move this pin during the rest of the experiment.

2. Refer to the data table on the next page. Position the second pin at the correct distance to the right of the Sun to represent the
second focus for that planet. Note: The pins do not represent the planets—they are only the second focus of the ellipse. You
will use it to help you draw that planet’s orbit. You will do this for each planet in turn.

3. In the data table you will see that each planet, in addition to the distance between its pins, also has a value for the length of
the loop of string you will use to help you draw its orbit. Measure out a length of string that is 4 cm longer than the distance
given. This gives you 2 cm at each end to make a knot in the string. Make a knot in the string to make a loop with a
circumference equal to the distance given in the table.

4. Place the string loop around both pins. Put a colored pencil inside the loop. Use a different color for each planet. Move the
pencil so that the string forms a triangle around the pins and the pencil point as shown in the diagrams. To draw an orbit, keep
the pencil on the paper inside the string loop. Keep the string tight with the pencil and move the pencil around the pins.

5. Label each loop with the name of the planet given.

6. Right after you finish drawing each loop, measure the major axis of the ellipse and enter it in the data table. The major axis is
the line that runs from one end of the ellipse to the other right through the two pins at the foci.

7. Calculate the value of the eccentricity of the orbits you have drawn by using the formula:

𝐷𝑓
𝐸=
𝐿𝑎

The formula says that you divide the distance between the foci (D f) by the length of the major axis (L a) to get the value of ‘E’
for eccentricity. Enter this data in the table.

Table 4.1. Data Table for Made-Up Planets

Planet Distance Around Distance Between Sun Pin Length of Major Axis Eccentricity
Orbit Loop and Second Pin
Bau 7.3 cm 1.3 cm
Virt 10.7 cm 2.7 cm
Lou 12.6 cm 0.6 cm
Sai 17.3 cm 2.3 cm
Junkey 35.0 cm 15.0 cm

Table 4.2. Data Table for Solar Planets

Name Eccentricity Planetary Year Rotation Period Mean Orbital Velocity
(days) (days) (km/s)
Venus 0.0068 224.701 243.0187 35.02
Neptune 0.0097 60190.00 0.67125 5.44

2
 Earth 0.0167 365.256 0.99727 29.79
Uranus 0.0461 30685.00 0.71833 6.80
Jupiter 0.0483 4332.71 0.41354 13.06
Moon 0.05 27.32166 27.32166 1.02
Saturn 0.0560 10759.50 0.44401 9.66
Mars 0.0934 686.98 1.025957 24.13
Mercury 0.2056 87.969 58.6462 47.87
Pluto 0.2482 90800 6.3872 4.74

In table 4.2 you will find data about the planets in our Solar System. They are arranged according to their eccentricities. Compare the
values you found for the experimental eccentricities to the values of the planets in our Solar System. Use this data and the data you
collected to create a bar graph. Use an appropriate graphing tool like Microsoft Excel or similar software to construct the graph. Along
the bottom (x-axis) write the names of the planets, including the made-up planets. Along the left side (y-axis) make a scale for the
eccentricity. It should range from 0 to 1. The bar graph should help you to see the differences in the value of the eccentricity of the
different planets.

Post-lab Questions
1. What is the shape of the most eccentric orbits? What is the shape of the least eccentric orbits?

2. Which of the real planets are the most eccentric? (Name the top three)

3. Which of the made-up planets are the most eccentric? (Name the top three)

4. If you were to add another orbit to your diagram and you wanted to draw a planet with an eccentricity value of 0.90, how far
apart would the foci be if the major axis measures 27.0 cm?

Going Further
Imagine that the Earth had a much higher eccentricity (say around 0.40). At some time of the year we would be very close to the Sun
and at others we would be very far away. Perihelion and aphelion would be at very different distances from the Sun. An important fact is
that the farther from the Sun a planet is, the slower it moves (Recall Kepler’s 2nd law). This means that we would be in the cold far-
from-the-Sun part of the orbit longer than in the hot close-to-the-Sun part of the orbit.

1. Describe what it would be like to live on a planet with such a high eccentricity.

2. On a separate sheet, draw an ellipse with the right eccentricity and use it to imagine how the amount of sunlight would change
from perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) to aphelion (farthest point from the Sun). This drawing is required in order to
receive full credit for this question. Suggestion: use a major axis of 15 cm, foci spacing of 3 cm and a loop of length 21 cm.

3. Imagine that this world has no tilt to its axis relative to its orbit. Would there be seasons on this planet? Explain your answer.
(HINT: This question requires some amount of research)

4. Earth’s orbit is very nearly circular with its eccentricity of 0.0167. Life is abundant on Earth. Form an opinion about life on a
planet with high eccentricity. If you think life would be possible then explain why. If not, explain why not.