Curated OER
Mathematics at the Frontier of Astronomy
Students explore the different types of measurements used in astronomy. In this space science lesson, students explain the relationship between planets' orbits and distance from the sun using Kepler's Laws. They discuss how math aides in...
Curated OER
Weightlessness
Students compare and contrast the terms "weight" and "mass". In this physics instructional activity, students observe an experiment in which objects are placed on a balance scale and weighed under different circumstances. Partners drop...
NASA
Nasa: The Space Place: Orbits 'R' Us
Learn about how Earth orbits the sun and how satellites orbit the Earth. Discover the different types of satellites such as GOES and POES and what they are used to monitor.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Orbital Motion
[Free Registration/Login Required] Understand angular momentum conservation in the absence of an applied torque in the context of planetary orbits using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also...
NASA
Nasa: Kepler and His Laws
This site from NASA provides biographical details about the lives of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. Discusses Kepler's successes at developing laws of planeatry motion. States the three laws and discusses each one individually....
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Satellite Motion
An animation depicting the path of projectiles launched at various launch speeds from the fictional Newton's Mountain. Accompanying text discusses satellite motion and the requirements of orbital motion. Links to further information is...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Finding Speed of a Satellite
Students must determine speed of a satellite by timing the satellite for part of its orbit. Students must also determine the period of the orbit based on their timing.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Finding Mass of a Planet
Students must determine mass of a planet based on the orbital motion of a satellite around the planet.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Orbital Motion
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Orbital motion and why it occurs, and the orbits of the Earth around the sun and the moon around the Earth.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Earth Science: Gravity
Do you know how gravity affects you? This module defines gravity and explains how gravity affects the motion of objects.
NASA
Nasa: Kepler's Second Law
This site from NASA states Kepler's second law of planetary motion and depicts its meaning with an informative diagram. Relates the law to conservation of energy principles and discusses the eccentricity of a satellite's (or a planet's)...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Global Positioning Satellites
The physics associated with global positioning satellites is discussed. The mechanism by which they triangulate the location of an object is described.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Astronomy: Orbital Motion and Kepler's Laws
At this site from the Astronomy Department of Cornell University, Kepler's three laws of planetary motion are stated. There are brief explanations of each, along with links to additional information on related subjects.