Instructional Video5:22
Curated Video

Why Are Planetary Orbits Elliptical?

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Planetary orbits are elliptical because gravitational interaction over time changes the delicate balance of mass, velocity and distance from the star which otherwise keeps planetary orbit circular. For a very long time, from Ptolemy to...
Instructional Video
University of Oregon

Electronic Universe: Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

9th - 10th
From the The Electronic Universe Project web site. This page states and explains Kepler's three laws of planetary motion. Includes some downloadable movie clips and associated sound files. Discusses Ptolemy's attempt to explain...