[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...

[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.

This simulation of a satellite's elliptical motion around a central body allows students to alter the eccentricity of the orbit while learning about velocity and force vectors.

Move the sun, earth, moon, and space station to see how it affects their gravitational forces and orbital paths. Visualize the sizes and distances between different heavenly bodies, and turn off gravity to see what would happen without it.

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.

[Free Registration/Login Required] The meteor is orbiting one of the 3 planets in a circular orbit. Drag the point associated with each planet to the meteor to see its orbit around that planet.

Students must calculate the period of a satellite moving around one of the bodies in our solar system.

Students must calculate the altitude of a satellite that is in a geosynchronous satellite going around the planet.

Students explore orbits of planets and satellites. Some topics examined in the activities are planetary motion, angular momentum of orbits, and Kepler's laws. The resource consists of video clips, lecture notes, practice problems, and...

Students explore how a satellite's motion is governed by the same physics principles and described by the same mathematical equations.

Experience a simulation of ballistic trajectories in relationship to Earth's orbit. Java 1.5 or more recent is required.

Kepler's Laws 1,2,3 including eccentricity of elliptical orbits. Good for reviewing planetary motions (NYS Earth Science).

In this interactive physics tutorial, students explore the variety of mathematical equations that describe the motion of satellites.

Explore the motion of a satellite as it orbits the earth in this interactive simulation.

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....

A discussion and statement of an equation for orbital speed. An interactive JavaScript form allows the user to investigate the relationship between orbital height and orbital speed. A very good opportunity to practice and receive...

In this interactive module, describe and explain the motion of objects that either move in circles or can be approximated to be moving in circles. Kinematic concepts and motion principles will be applied to the motion of objects in...

Through illustrated examples and interactive practice, students explore Newton's ability to relate the cause for heavenly motion (the orbit of the moon about the earth) to the cause for Earthly motion (the falling of an apple to the...

A table listing the average radius of orbit for the nine planets about the sun; expressed in astronomical units. Data can be used to calculate the orbital speed or the orbital period.

Students must calculate the mass of a planet based on the orbital motion of the moon going around the planet.

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)...

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.

This lab is designed to allow students to explore different aspects of satellite motion. Students can vary the mass of the satellite, the orbital radius of the satellite and the body that the satellite is orbiting. Students can measure...

Through illustrated examples and practice problems, this interactive physics tutorial helps students clear up their possible misconceptions about weightlessness.