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Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion 

The motions of planet in universe have always been a puzzle. In 17th century Johannes Kepler, after a life time of study worded out some empirical laws based on the analysis of astronomical measurements of Tycho Brahe. Kepler formulated his laws, which are kinematical description of planetary motion. Now we discuss these laws step by step.

Kepler's First Law [The Law of Orbits] 

Kepler's first law is illustrated in the image shown in figure. It states that "All the planets move around the sun in ellipitcal orbits with sun at one of the focus not at centre of orbit."

It is observed that the orbits of planets around sun are very less ecentric or approximately circular

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Kepler's Second Law [The Law of Areas]

,epler's second Law is basically an alternative statement of law of conservation of momentum. It is illustrated in the image shown in figure(a). We know from angular momentum conservation, in elliptical orbit plane will move faster when it is nearer to the sun. Thus when a planet executes elliptical orbit its angular speed changes continuously as it moves in the orbit. The point of nearest approach of the planet to the sun is termed perihelion. The point of greatest seperation is termed aphelion. Hence by angular momentum conservation we can state that the planet moves with maximum speed when it is near perihelion and moves with slowest speed when it is near aphelion.

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEETKepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Kepler's second law states that "The line joining the sun and planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time or the rate of sweeping area by the position vector of the planet with respect to sun remains constant. "This is shown in figure (b).

The above statement of Kepler's second law can be verified by the law of conservation of angular momentum. To verify this consider the moving planet around the sun at a general point C in the orbit at speed v. Let at this instant the distance of planet from sun is r. If q be the angle between position vector Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET of planet and its velocity vector then the angular momentum of planet at this instant is

L = mvr sinθ ...(1)

In an elemental time the planet will cover a small distance CD = dl and will travel to another adjacent point D as shown in figure (a), thus the distance CD = vdt. In this duration dt, the position vector Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET sweeps out an area equal to that of triangle SCD, which is calculated as

Area of triangle SCD is dA = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET × r × vdt sin (π-θ)

= Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET r v sinθ. dt

Thus the rate of sweeping area by the position vector Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET is

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Now from equation (1)

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(2)

The expression in equation (2) verifies the statement of Kepler' II law of planetary motion.

Kepler's Third law [The Law of Periods]

Kepler's Third Law is concerned with the time period of revolution of planets. It states that "The time period of revolution of a planet in its orbit around the sun is directly proportional to the cube of semi-major axis of the elliptical path around the sun"

If 'T' is the period of revolution and 'a' be the semi-major axis of the path of planet then according to Kepler's III law, we have

T2 Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET µ a3

For circular orbits, it is a special case of ellipse when its major and minor axis are equal. If a planet is in a circular orbit of radius r around the sun then its revolution speed must be given as

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Where Ms is the mass of sun. Here you can recall that this speed is independent from the mass of planet. Here the time period of revolution can be given as

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Squaring equation written above, we get

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(1)

Equation (1) verifies the statement of Kepler's third law for circular orbits. Similarly we can also verify it for elliptical orbits. For this we start from the relation we've derived earlier for rate of sweeping area by the position vector of planet with respect to sun which is given as

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Ex. The moon revolves around the earth 13 times per year. If the ratio of the distance of the earth from the sun to the distance of the moon from the earth is 392, find the ratio of mass of the sun to the mass of the earth. 

Sol. The time period Te of earth around sun of mass Ms is given by

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(1)

Where re is the radius of the earth.

Similarly, time period Tm of moon around earth is given by

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(2)

Dividing equation(1) by equation (2), we get

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(3)

Substituting the given values, we get

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Ex. A satellite revolves around a planet in an elliptical orbit. Its maximum and minimum distances from the planet are 1.5 × 107 m and 0.5 × 107 m respectively. If the speed of the satellite at the farthest point be 5 × 103 m/s, calculate the speed at the nearest point. 

Sol.

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

In case of elliptical orbit, the speed of satellite varies constantly as shown in figure. Thus according to the law of conservation of angular momentum, the satellite must move faster at a point of closest approach (Perigee) than at a farthest point (Appogee).

We know that Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Hence, at the two points, L = m v1 r1 = m v2 r2

or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Substituting the given values, we get

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ⇒ v2 = 1.5 × 104 m/s

Ex. Imagine a light planet revolving around a very massive star in a circular orbit of radius r with a period of revolution T. On what power of r, will the square of time period depend if the gravitational force of attraction between the planet and the star is proportional to r-5/2. 

Sol. As gravitation provides centripetal force

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET, i.e., Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

So that T = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET so T2 µ r7/2

Ex. A satellite is revolving round the earth in a circular orbit of radius a with velocity v0. A particle is projected from the satellite in forward direction with relative velocity Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET. Calculate, during subsequent motion of the particle its minimum and maximum distances from earth's centre.

The corresponding situation is shown in figure.

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Initial velocity of satellite Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

When particle is thrown with the velocity v relative to satellite, the resultant velocity of particle will become

vR = v0+v

= Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

As the particle velocity is greater than the velocity required for circular orbit, hence the particle path deviates from circular path to elliptical path. At position of minimum and maximum distance velocity vectors are perpendicular to instantaneous radius vector. In this elliptical path the minimum distance of particle from earth's centre is a and maximum speed in the path is vR and let the maximum distance and minimum speed in the path is r and v1 respectively.

Now as angular momentum and total energy remain conserved. Applying the law of conservation of angular momentum, we have

m vr = m(v0 + v) a                         [m = mass of particle]

or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEETKepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Applying the law of conservation of energy

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or 3r2 - 8 ar + 5 a2 = 0 or r = a or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Thus minimum distance of the particle = a

And maximum distance of the particle = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Ex. A sky lab of mass 2 × 103 kg is first launched from the surface of earth in a circular orbit of radius 2 R (from the centre of earth) and then it is shifted from this circular orbit to another circular orbit of radius 3 R. Calculate the minimum energy required (a) to place the lab in the first orbit (b) to shift the lab from first orbit to the second orbit. Given, R = 6400 km and g = 10 m/s2. 

Sol. (a) The energy of the sky lab on the surface of earth

ES = KE + PE = 0 + Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

And the total energy of the sky lab in an orbit of radius 2 R is

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

So the energy required to placed the lab from the surface of earth to the orbit of radius 2R is given as

E1 - Es = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEETKepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or DE = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET (2 × 103 × 10 × 6.4 × 106) = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET(12.8 × 1010) = 9.6 × 1010 J

(b) As for II orbit of radius 3R the total energy of sky lab is

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or E2 - E1 = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or DE = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET = 1.1 × 1010 J

Ex. A satellite is revolving around a planet of mass M in an elliptic orbit of semi-major axis a. Show that the orbital speed of the satellite when it is at a distance r from the focus will be given by :

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

Sol. As in case of elliptic orbit with semi major axes a, of a satellite total mechanical energy remains constant, at any position of satellite in the orbit, given as

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

or KE PE = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(1)

Now, if at position r, v is the orbital speed of satellite, we have

KE = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET and PE = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET ...(2)

So from equation (1) and (2), we have

Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET = Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET, i.e., Kepler`s Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET

The document Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion | Physics Class 11 - NEET is a part of the NEET Course Physics Class 11.
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FAQs on Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion - Physics Class 11 - NEET

1. What are Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion?
Ans. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion are three scientific laws that describe the motion of planets around the Sun. They were formulated by Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century.
2. What is Kepler's First Law?
Ans. Kepler's First Law, also known as the Law of Orbits, states that planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one of the two foci.
3. What is Kepler's Second Law?
Ans. Kepler's Second Law, also known as the Law of Areas, states that a line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time.
4. What is Kepler's Third Law?
Ans. Kepler's Third Law, also known as the Law of Periods, states that the square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.
5. How do Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion contribute to our understanding of the motion of planets in our solar system?
Ans. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion provide a mathematical framework for understanding the motion of planets in our solar system and have been instrumental in the development of modern astronomy and celestial mechanics.
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