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Kepler's three laws of planetary motion describe the orbits of the planets, and Kepler's model is the one that is generally used today.

The three laws describe the shape of a planet's orbit, how the planet's speed varies as it goes round an orbit of a given shape, and how quickly the planet completes an orbit of a given size.

The first major model was that of Claudio Ptolemy who placed the Earth at the centre, but as a result of this he was forced to use somewhat complicated geometric paths to explain the observed positions of the planets, especially the inner planets.

The model used combinations of circles and epicycles, and in this respect it was similar to the next model, published by Copernicus in 1543. The model put the Sun at the centre and as a result the orbits were geometrically less complicated. Galileo supported this model.

At the end of the 1500s Tycho Brahe made a series of more accurate measurements of the planet's positions over a period of time, and Johannes Kepler acquired the results after Tycho's death in 1601.

Kepler's model (1609) kept the Sun at the centre but introduced the novel idea of elliptical orbits. He showed that his model represented the planets' positions more accurately (when compared with observations) than the earlier models.

The above three models were alternative ways of describing the planets' positions as observed, and none of them attempted to give reasons for the planets' behaviour. However Newton's book 'Principia' gave details of the theory of gravity and the laws of motion, and he was able to show that a planets moving under the Sun's gravity must follow an elliptical orbit.

So Kepler's model was eventually given a theoretical backup and the two earlier models were discarded.

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According to Keplers second law Pluto will be travelling fastest around the sun when?

... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)


How does newtons first law explain keplors first law?

Newton's first and third laws of motion don't contribute anything to an understandingof Kepler's laws of planetary motion.Kepler's laws can be derived from Newton's law of universal gravitation, along with hissecond law of motion.


Who discovered the elliptical path of the planets?

17th century astronomer Johannes Kepler discovered the elliptical shape of the planets' orbits around the Sun, which he described in his first law of planetary motion. Newton later explained this in his law of universal gravitation.


How does Kepler and first law of planetary motion overthrow one of the basic beliefs of classical astronomy How about Kepler and second law?

Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion, which states that planets orbit the sun in elliptical paths rather than perfect circles, challenged the classical astronomy belief that planetary orbits were circular and uniform. This shift underscored the complexities of celestial mechanics and the sun's central role in the solar system. Kepler's Second Law further refuted classical views by demonstrating that a planet moves faster when closer to the sun and slower when farther away, highlighting the variable speed of planetary motion and contradicting the notion of uniform circular motion.


How did Johannes Kepler come up with his three laws of motion?

Kepler's laws are about the planets' orbits. The first law says that the orbit of any planet around the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the focii. The second law states that the line joining the Sun to a planet covers equal area in equal intervals of time. The third law states the square of the time period of the planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its elliptical orbit. Kepler's law explained planetary motion, but nothing other than motion, and really no one could properly explain why Kepler's law worked. So therefore we move on to Newton's first law.

Related Questions

What does Kepler first law state?

Kepler's 1st law of planetary motion state that Each planet moves in an elliptical orbit with the sun at one focus.


Who was Person who first showed that planetary orbits are ellipses?

Johannes Kepler was the person who first showed that planetary orbits are ellipses. His work, published in 1609, is known as Kepler's first law of planetary motion.


How did Kepler's deviate from the beliefs of Aristotle and Copernicus in his first law?

it was different


What is Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets around the Sun?

Kepler's 1st law states that the orbits of the planets around the sun and makes an ellipse. This is taught in astronomy.


What did Kepler realize about the orbit of Mars?

Johannes Kepler realized that the orbit of Mars is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the foci. This was one of his three laws of planetary motion, known as Kepler's First Law.


What law announced by Kepler was supported by newtons law?

All 3 of them (Kepler's laws of planetary motion).


Kepler discovered the planets orbit are elliptical not?

Kepler discovered that the planets orbit the Sun in elliptical shapes, not in perfect circles as previously believed. This finding is summarized in Kepler's first law of planetary motion.


Is the semi-major axis concept an important part of Third Law of Motion?

Yes, in Kepler's Third Law, it is used to calculate the periods of planets.Yes, in Kepler's Third Law, it is used to calculate the periods of planets.Yes, in Kepler's Third Law, it is used to calculate the periods of planets.Yes, in Kepler's Third Law, it is used to calculate the periods of planets.


Johannes Kepler discovered that the path that the planets followed what kind in shape?

Johannes Kepler discovered that the path that planets follow around the sun is an elliptical shape. This is known as Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion.


The fact that each planets orbit is an ellipse was discovered by?

Johannes Kepler discovered that planets orbit the Sun in ellipses with varying eccentricities in the early 17th century. This became known as Kepler's first law of planetary motion and revolutionized our understanding of planetary orbits.


According to Keplers second law Pluto will be travelling fastest around the sun when?

... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)... when it is closest to the Sun. (Kepler's Second Law)


How does newtons first law explain keplors first law?

Newton's first and third laws of motion don't contribute anything to an understandingof Kepler's laws of planetary motion.Kepler's laws can be derived from Newton's law of universal gravitation, along with hissecond law of motion.