Kepler’s laws of planetary motion can be derived from Newton’s laws of motion and Newton’s universal law of gravitation. Since gravity is a conservative force, mechanical energy is conserved throughout a planet’s orbit. a) Is the gravitational potential energy of the planet-Sun system greater at perihelion (the point of closest approach to the Sun) or aphelion (the point of farthest approach from the Sun)? b) Is the kinetic energy of the planet-Sun system greater at perihelion or aphelion? c) Is your answer consistent with Kepler’s second law of planetary motion? Justify your answers.

University Physics Volume 1
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ISBN:9781938168277
Author:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny
Publisher:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny
Chapter8: Potential Energy And Conservation Of Energy
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Problem 65P: A block of mass 200 g is attached at the end of a massless spring of spring constant 50 N/m. The...
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Kepler’s laws of planetary motion can be derived from Newton’s laws of motion and Newton’s universal law of gravitation. Since gravity is a conservative force, mechanical energy is conserved throughout a planet’s orbit. a) Is the gravitational potential energy of the planet-Sun system greater at perihelion (the point of closest approach to the Sun) or aphelion (the point of farthest approach from the Sun)? b) Is the kinetic energy of the planet-Sun system greater at perihelion or aphelion? c) Is your answer consistent with Kepler’s second law of planetary motion? Justify your answers.

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