Activity: Constructing Orbits

Materials:

thumbtacks or pins, string, cardboard (21.5 cm x 28 cm), metric ruler, pencil, paper, student lab handout.

About this Activity:

This activity involves a laboratory investigation for students to perform. In this investigation students will construct orbits of planets and calculate the eccentricities of the orbits.

Procedure:

  1. Discuss Kepler's Laws using the background information.
  2. Discuss how to calculate the eccentricities of orbits.
  3. Have the materials set out for the students at their lab tables.
  4. Discuss safety since students will be using pins.
  5. Pass out lab hand-out and go over the directions.
  6. Have students get into their lab groups and begin the activity.
Lab Handout: Constructing Orbits

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[LMGFP home page] Contact Karen Krupinsky (kgurley@gsfc.nasa.gov) or
Tammy Seergae (tseergae@umd.edu) for further information.