Keppler's 2nd & 3rd Law: A Discussion on Gravitational Force and Kinetic Energy

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In summary, the conversation discusses a question about Keppler's 2nd law, which states that a planet's velocity changes when its distance from the sun changes. One participant suggests that this law only applies to a single planet in a given orbit, while another participant provides formulas for velocities at perigee and apogee and explains how this satisfies Keppler's 2nd law. The conversation also touches on the concept of Newton's force of gravitation and the orbital velocity of a planet.
  • #1
mich
[SOLVED] Keppler's 2nd & 3rd

Originally posted by ObsessiveMathsFreak
Ok the above statement is not STRICTLY true. It should read...


While I have the correct topic, I'm not sure if this belongs to
the crackpot theory or not. I appologize if I haven't placed my post in the correct category.

I'm having a bit of a problem concerning Keppler's 2nd.law.
" ...moving planets sweeps out equal areas at equal time."
This clearly states that a planet which approaches or get's farther
from the sun will experience an increase or a decrease of velocity
by a specific amount.
Let a planet revolve around the sun at R=1, if the orbit is circular, then the distance traveled would be 2*pi*R= 2*pi. Let us claim the period to be 1 unit of time.It's velocity would then be 2*pi/1.
According to the 2nd law, it would take a radius of sqrt2 in order
for the period to be equal to 2. the velocity would then be
2*sqrt2*pi/2; or simply sqrt2*pi.
If we continue to increase the radius, we get:
for R=sqrt3 T=3; v=2*sqrt3*pi/3
for R=sqrt4 T=4; v=2*sqrt4*pi/4 = 4*pi/4 = pi (notice that when the radius is doubled, the velocity, being directly affected by the gravitational force,is halved. This "could" seem to claim as you did,that gravitational force is inversally proportional to R...not R^2.
Nevertheless,My question would be: could Newton's 3rd law be centered more on the kenetic energy of a planet relative to it's distance from the gravitational force? Force=Kenetic Energy/R?
F=mv^2/2R

R=1 T=1 V=2 F= m*4/2*1 = 2 (let m=1)
R=2 T=4 v=1 F= m*1/2*2 = 1/4
R=3 T=9 v=.66 F= m*.4356/2*3 = .0726
R=4 T=16 v=.5 F= m*.25/2*4 = .031
R=8 T=64 v=.25 F= m* .0625/2*8 = .0039

This would show that when the radial distance is doubled, the kenetic energy is halved, and the Force is reduced by a factor of 8.
 
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  • #2


Originally posted by Janus
I think I've covered this with someone else before, but:

Keppler's Law only applies to a single planet in a given orbit. It does not apply to different orbits.


Thank you for replying, Janus, and I do agree that Keppler's 2nd law was meant to speak of one planet traveling on a elliptical orbit.
On the other hand, wouldn't you agree that the "covering of areas at equal time" law must indeed state that the planet having a specific velocity at R1 will change to a different "specific" velocity when the planet is at R2?Let us say that at R1 the velocity is 1 unit of distance/unit of time. According to the 2nd law, one ought to be able to calculate the velocity of the planet when the distance changes to R2 from the gravitational source.According to your calculation,what would be R2 when the velocity is halved, if R1= 1 unit of distance?
 
  • #3
Originally posted by mich
Thank you for replying, Janus, and I do agree that Keppler's 2nd law was meant to speak of one planet traveling on a elliptical orbit.
On the other hand, wouldn't you agree that the "covering of areas at equal time" law must indeed state that the planet having a specific velocity at R1 will change to a different "specific" velocity when the planet is at R2?Let us say that at R1 the velocity is 1 unit of distance/unit of time. According to the 2nd law, one ought to be able to calculate the velocity of the planet when the distance changes to R2 from the gravitational source.According to your calculation,what would be R2 when the velocity is halved, if R1= 1 unit of distance?

The formula for velocities at perigee and apogee repectively are:

Vp = [squ]((2GM/(Rp+Ra)) Ra/Rp)

and

Va =[squ]((2GM/(Rp+Ra)) Rp/Ra)

In this case, Rp = 1/2 and Ra =1, so

Vp = [squ]((2GM/(1/2+1)) 1/(1/2))

= [squ](8GM/3)

and

Va =[squ]((2GM/(1/2+1)) (1/2)/1)

= [squ](2GM/3)

The ratio of Vp to Va is

Vp/Va =[squ](8GM/3)/[squ](2GM/3)

=[squ]((8GM/3)/(2GM/3))

GM/3 cancels out, leaving

=[squ](8/2) =[squ]4 = 2.

The area traced out by the orbit at perigee in one sec is;

Ap/sec = (2*1/2)/2 = 1/2 square units.

at apogee:

Aa/sec = (1*1)/2 = 1/2 square units, which satisfies Keppler's second law.

One thing that should be pointed out however, is that Keppler's Second law by itself cannot tell us anything about how the gravitational field behaves other than that it acts along a certain line.
It is true regardless whether the field is attractive, repulsive, constant, falls off lineary or by the square of the distance. All it requres is that the force always acts along a line towards a central point.

This has been proven through Newton's "Theorem of Areas".
 
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  • #4
Thanks again for replying, Janus:

Originally posted by Janus
The formula for velocities at perigee and apogee repectively are:

Vp = [squ]((2GM/(Rp+Ra)) Ra/Rp)

and

Va =[squ]((2GM/(Rp+Ra)) Rp/Ra)


O.K. this would seem to come from Newton's force of gravitation formula where [sqrt 2GM/R] I believe would be considered the velocity of one of the bodies;. would that be correct?

In this case, Rp = 1/2 and Ra =1, so

Vp = [squ]((2GM/(1/2+1)) 1/(1/2))

= [squ](8GM/3)

and

Va =[squ]((2GM/(1/2+1)) (1/2)/1)

= [squ](2GM/3)

The ratio of Vp to Va is

Vp/Va =[squ](8GM/3)/[squ](2GM/3)

=[squ]((8GM/3)/(2GM/3))

GM/3 cancels out, leaving

=[squ](8/2) =[squ]4 = 2.

I believe that this is what I had, Janus. when the Radius increases
twofold the orbital velocity is reduced to half it's original speed.
I think I do understand what you are saying though. If a body has a
circular orbit, it's velocity needs to be inferior or superior (depending on it's position relative to the gravitational force), to the velocity of the body when it's orbit is an elliptical one.
If that's the case, then I "personally" disagree. The orbital velocity has two vectors; one in the direction towards the point of gravitation and the second is let's say 90 degrees to it.
The sideral velocity displaces the path of the orbit making the body having either a circular orbit, or elliptical or whatever. It is responsible for leaving the body at a constant distance from the point
of gravity or increasing/decreasing it's distance to it.It is in itself independant to the gravitational force.Nevertheless,
when the body is at a specific distance to the gravitational point,
it seems that it's velocity can be calculated the same way that I have done so; that is the way I see it anyway. Your calculation seems to comes indirectly from Newton and not Keppler, although, as you showed me, it does indeed agree with Keppler's 2nd law.
The reason why I'm circling around this, is because, if my calculations are correct,then it seems that there's a discrepancy between Keppler's 2nd and 3rd law;and yes of course I know that I am in all probabilities wrong.Nevertheless, this is what bother's me right now.
You see, the idea stems from the fact that Kepler's calculated values of Tycho Brahe's observations could not have taken into account the red and blue shifts since during this period, light was thought to have possibly an infinite velocity.

Thanks for your time; I greatly appreciate it.
Mich
 
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  • #5
Originally posted by mich
Thanks again for replying, Janus:



O.K. this would seem to come from Newton's force of gravitation formula where [sqrt 2GM/R] I believe would be considered to be the velocity of one of the bodies;. would that be correct?


[squ](GM/R) gives the orbital velocity for a circular orbit of radius R . (The formula you gave is for escape velocity.)

Now it is important to note that a body in an eliptical orbit with a perigee of R will have a velocity greater than [squ](GM/R) (yet less than [squ](2GM/R) ) at perigee. So you can't use Keppler's second law to determine the period of a circular orbit at that distance.




The reason why I'm circling around this, is because, if my calculations are correct,then it seems that there's a discrepancy between Keppler's 2nd and 3rd law;and yes of course I know that I am in all probabilities wrong.Nevertheless, this is what bother's me right now, and is also the reason why I believe that I did not post in the correct category. If so, then again, I appologize.


No discrepancy. One talks about the velocity of a eliptical orbit at different points of the orbit, the Other deals with the period due to the Average radius of an orbit. One works within a given orbit, the other works between different orbits.

There can't be a discrepancy between them because they are not inter-related.

Just as it can be shown that Keppler's second law is compatable with Newtonian physics, Keppler's third law can be shown to be so.

Start with the circular orbital velocity formula:

V = [squ](GM/R)

the distance travled in one orbit is

D = 2[pi]R

The period of the orbit is therefore

P = D/V =2[pi]R / [squ](GM/R)

= 2[pi]R[squ](R/GM) = 2[pi][squ](R³/GM)

If we compare the period of two circular orbits we get

P1/P2 = 2[pi][squ](R1³/GM)/2[pi][squ](R2³/GM)

2[pi] cancels out.

=[squ](R1³/GM)/[squ](R2³/GM)

square both sides.

P1²/P2² =(R1³/GM)/(R2³/GM)

GM cancels out;

P1²/P2² =R1³/R2³

Leaving us with Keppler's Third Law.


You see, the idea stems from the fact that Kepler's observations could not have taken into account the red and blue shifts since during this period, light was thought to have an infinite velocity.


The problem here is that the Doppler shifts in light are so small at orbital velocities that they fall far below the accuracy limits of the measurements made at that time. They would have had negligible effect on Keppler's measurements.
 
  • #6
Thanks alot, Janus; you clarified the situation for me.

Originally posted by Janus
[squ](GM/R) gives the orbital velocity for a circular orbit of radius R . (The formula you gave is for escape velocity.)

Now it is important to note that a body in an eliptical orbit with a perigee of R will have a velocity greater than [squ](GM/R) (yet less than [squ](2GM/R) ) at perigee. So you can't use Keppler's second law to determine the period of a circular orbit at that distance.



No discrepancy. One talks about the velocity of a eliptical orbit at different points of the orbit, the Other deals with the period due to the Average radius of an orbit. One works within a given orbit, the other works between different orbits.

There can't be a discrepancy between them because they are not inter-related.

Just as it can be shown that Keppler's second law is compatable with Newtonian physics, Keppler's third law can be shown to be so.

Start with the circular orbital velocity formula:

V = [squ](GM/R)

the distance travled in one orbit is

D = 2[pi]R

The period of the orbit is therefore

P = D/V =2[pi]R / [squ](GM/R)

= 2[pi]R[squ](R/GM) = 2[pi][squ](R³/GM)

If we compare the period of two circular orbits we get

P1/P2 = 2[pi][squ](R1³/GM)/2[pi][squ](R2³/GM)

2[pi] cancels out.

=[squ](R1³/GM)/[squ](R2³/GM)

square both sides.

P1²/P2² =(R1³/GM)/(R2³/GM)

GM cancels out;

P1²/P2² =R1³/R2³

Leaving us with Keppler's Third Law.



The problem here is that the Doppler shifts in light are so small at orbital velocities that they fall far below the accuracy limits of the measurements made at that time. They would have had negligible effect on Keppler's measurements.
 
  • #7
Excuse me Janus,I came back because something was bothering me..
I sound like Columbo

What you wrote makes sense but I may have a small problem still.
When the planet's orbit is at it's perigee, then the velocity
is greater than if it was in a circular orbit at that radius, which is the reason why it gets further from the sun. Also when the planet is at it's apogee , then the planet's velocity is slower than if it had a circular orbit at that particular radius, which is the reason why the planet moves closer to the sun. Therefore, the ratio between
those two velocities (apogee/perigee) could never be equal to the ratio of two different circular orbits having two different radii, one equal to the apogee of the elliptical orbit, and the other equal to the perigee of that same elliptical orbit...so how is it that in your calculations, the ratio between the two velocities (apogee/perigee) was the same as the calculations I've made using circular orbits?

Thanks for your time.
 
  • #8
Originally posted by mich
Excuse me Janus,I came back because something was bothering me..
I sound like Columbo

What you wrote makes sense but I may have a small problem still.
When the planet's orbit is at it's perigee, then the velocity
is greater than if it was in a circular orbit at that radius, which is the reason why it gets further from the sun. Also when the planet is at it's apogee , then the planet's velocity is slower than if it had a circular orbit at that particular radius, which is the reason why the planet moves closer to the sun. Therefore, the ratio between
those two velocities (apogee/perigee) could never be equal to the ratio of two different circular orbits having two different radii, one equal to the apogee of the elliptical orbit, and the other equal to the perigee of that same elliptical orbit...so how is it that in your calculations, the ratio between the two velocities (apogee/perigee) was the same as the calculations I've made using circular orbits?

Thanks for your time.

First off, I split this discussion off into a new thread, as it was off the original topic.

Going back over your posts, it look's like you tried to use Keppler's 2nd Law to calculate those circular orbits. That won't work, because you are dealing with two separate orbits, not just one.

What you ended up getting is the velocity difference between two points with different distances in the same orbit. You used the wrong law.

To get the velocity difference between two different orbits, you have to use the 3rd law.
 
  • #9
Originally posted by Janus
First off, I split this discussion off into a new thread, as it was off the original topic.


Yes, of coarse I understand. I thought I had something in common with their thoughts on g being proportional to R and not R^2, but
I guess I didn't.

Going back over your posts, it look's like you tried to use Keppler's 2nd Law to calculate those circular orbits. That won't work, because you are dealing with two separate orbits, not just one.

Actually, I only used those calculations to figure out the velocity of a body at different distances from the gravitational force (R).
It seems that Keppler did not write this law for nothing, it had to be in order to calculate the ratio of different velocities when the planet changes it's distance from the sun... but how does one calculate it?
You used a version of Newton's law, something that didn't exist yet.
I took the only tool that existed then,(the covering of areas at equal time law) and tried to figure out different velocity ratios for different distances of the planet's path. The only way I could think of doing this was to calculate the respected velocities
"as if they were two different circular orbits of different radii".

What you ended up getting is the velocity difference between two points with different distances in the same orbit. You used the wrong law.

But if I used the method of circular orbits, how could I have ended up
getting the velocity difference between two points with different distances "in the same orbit"? I'm a bit confused.

To get the velocity difference between two different orbits, you have to use the 3rd law.

I will leave the 3rd law aside for now so as not to get too confused.

Thank you for your time.

mich
 

What is Keppler's 2nd Law?

Keppler's 2nd Law, also known as the Law of Equal Areas, states that a line connecting a planet to the sun will sweep out equal areas in equal time intervals. This means that a planet will move faster when it is closer to the sun and slower when it is farther away.

What is Keppler's 3rd Law?

Keppler's 3rd Law, also known as the Law of Harmonies, states that the square of a planet's orbital period is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. This means that the farther a planet is from the sun, the longer it takes to complete one orbit.

How are Keppler's 2nd and 3rd Law related to gravitational force?

Keppler's 2nd and 3rd Laws are related to gravitational force because they describe the motion of objects under the influence of a central force, such as the gravitational force between a planet and the sun. The laws explain the relationship between the strength of the gravitational force, the distance between two objects, and the speed and trajectory of the moving object.

What is the role of kinetic energy in Keppler's 2nd and 3rd Law?

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion. In the case of Keppler's 2nd and 3rd Laws, kinetic energy is important because it determines the speed at which a planet moves in its orbit. As a planet moves closer to the sun, its kinetic energy increases, causing it to move faster according to Keppler's 2nd Law. Additionally, the kinetic energy of a planet is related to its orbital period, as described by Keppler's 3rd Law.

How did Keppler's Laws contribute to our understanding of the universe?

Keppler's Laws allowed scientists to better understand the motion of planets and other celestial bodies in our solar system. These laws also provided evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system, which states that the sun is at the center and the planets revolve around it. Keppler's Laws also paved the way for Isaac Newton's theory of gravity, which revolutionized our understanding of the universe and has been used to make important predictions and calculations in the field of astronomy.

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