Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Multiple Choice Planetary Motion Study Cards

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Kepler's Laws 1,2,3 including eccentricity of elliptical orbits. Good for reviewing planetary motions (NYS Earth Science).
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Orbital Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
[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...
Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Copernican System Model

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Copernican system of planetary motion is clarified in this simulation.
Website
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion Table of Contents

For Students 9th - 10th
Learners investigate planetary motion, satellite motion, universal gravitation, and circular motion. The tutorial consists of lessons, formulas, and problems to check for understanding.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion: Kepler's Three Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
Through interactive practice problems and examples, students explore Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion.
eBook
Cornell University

Cornell University: Astronomy: Orbital Motion and Kepler's Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Primary
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: The Studies of Kepler

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information of the early life of Kepler is provided as well as a somewhat detailed look at the highs and lows of his work in studying planetary motion.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Kepler's Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
An outstanding page describing Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion: Principles for Satellites

For Students 9th - 10th
Students explore how a satellite's motion is governed by the same physics principles and described by the same mathematical equations.
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: The Apple, the Moon, and the Inverse Square Law

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Describes the logic behind the development of Newton's law of universal gravitation. Beginning with Johannes Kepler and his three laws of planetary motion, content walks the reader through Newton's thought process and development of this...
Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Kepler System Model

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Open Source Physics offers a file with a simulation of Kepler's theory of planetary motion, tested with the Earth rotating around the sun and another planet of the user's choosing. The download requires Java.
Unit Plan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Orbits of Planets and Satellites

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
eBook
NASA

Nasa: Kepler's Second Law

For Students 9th - 10th
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)...
Interactive
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Kepler's Second Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Kepler's second law of planetary motion is stated and explained. An animation of the orbit of a planet and an accompanying graphic assists in explaining the meaning of the law of equal areas.
eBook
NASA

Nasa: Kepler and His Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
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....
Lesson Plan
Other

Usra: Lunar and Planetary Institute: Hot Spot Activity [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson, students will measure the distances between Hawaiian islands, and convert and graph their data to determine the speed of the Pacific Plate.
Graphic
Other

Kepler and Ellipses

For Students 9th - 10th
Good site explaining the laws of planetary motion and ellipses
Graphic
Curated OER

Cornell University: Orbital Motion and Kepler's Laws

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from Cornell University, Kepler's three laws of planetary motion are stated. There are brief explanations of each. The laws are applied to explain the features of planetary orbits as well as the motion of binary star...
Unknown Type
Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Jolly Gas Giant Problem

For Students 9th - 10th
Students must calculate the mass of a planet based on the orbital motion of the moon going around the planet.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Solar Orbit

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Paper Mache Solar System

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This site from the Illinois Institute of Technology provides a set of directions for the creation of a solar system model out of paper mache. Includes orbital distances and planet diameters for the nine planets. Great idea for a student...
Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Celestial Globe Model

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Users have the opportunity to adjust several variables in this simulation demonstrating the Ancient Greek's Two Sphere Universe theory.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Nasa: Kepler: A Search for Habitable Planets: Transit Tracks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Classroom lesson for teaching astronomy uses PowerPoint presentations and illustrations of Kepler's light curves used to discover planets.
Handout
Virginia Tech

University of Virginia: Johannes Kepler

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Virginia provides notes from a lengthy lecture given on the life of Johannes Kepler. This site has GREAT information and is easy to understand.

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