Mrs. Sumerix - Welcome



Exploring Orbital Motion, Velocity, and PeriodIn this investigation you will be collecting and analyzing data that will allow you to make claims about what determines the orbital motion of planets, comets, and any other celestial object that orbits another. Learning Objectives- Students will be able to:Determine the relationship between a celestial object’s distance from its host star and the time it takes to revolve around the star (period)Determine the relationship between a celestial object’s distance from its host star and its orbital velocityDescribe how the motion of a celestial object with an oval shaped orbit changes as it revolves around its host starPart 1For this part, you will need your Earth Science Reference Table (ESRT). Obtain a copy of the ESRT and find the table that you think will have information about a planet’s motion around the Sun. Once you find it, look for the column that says Period of Revolution. The period of revolution is the amount of time it takes for the planet or any other celestial object to make one full trip around its host star, in this case the Sun. Then find the column that indicates the distance of each planet and the Moon from the Sun. Now, use the graph template below to graph the relationship between period of revolution and mean distance from Sun.-76199219075510152025303540Mean Distance from Sun (AU) 20406080100120140160180200Period of Revolution (years) 510152025303540Mean Distance from Sun (AU) 20406080100120140160180200Period of Revolution (years) Analysis Questions:What is the relationship you see between a planet’s distance from the Sun and its period of revolution around the Sun? In other words, how does the amount of time it takes for a planet to move around the Sun change as you look at planets further and further from the Sun? Think back to what you have learned in this unit so far. Do you have any ideas that might explain this relationship? If so, write them below. Part 2: Understanding MotionDuring this part of the investigation you will be using an orbits simulator to look for different patterns that you will attempt to explain. Click on this link to begin using the orbits simulator seen below. Be sure to read through the tutorial in order fully understand what the simulator can do and what data it can provide. -76199114300Read through this important tutorial in order to prepare for the investigation. Read through this important tutorial in order to prepare for the investigation. Take 5 minutes to explore how the planets and the comet move around the Sun. Talk about what patterns you find with your partner.Observe the velocity of the planets and the comet. What do you notice? Remember, you can zoom in and out with the buttons on the right. Use the “Planet X” controls on the top right to see how you can affect its motion. Write your findings below. Analysis Questions: Examine your observations from part 2 and make claim for what you think explains the relationship between a planet’s distance from the Sun and the amount of time it takes to go around the Sun. Be sure to cite evidence from the simulator in part 2.What did you notice about the shape of orbits in the simulator? What kind of affect does the shape of the orbit have on an object’s motion? Be sure to cite evidence from the simulator in part 2. ................
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