Access the simulation above.
Check the boxes for gravity, velocity, path, and grid. Press the play button and observe the motion of the Earth around the Sun.
Does the Earth travel in a perfectly circular orbit around the Sun? Use evidence from the simulation to support your answer.
Reset the simulation by pressing the orange button. Adjust the Earth to twice its normal mass and press the play button. Observe the motion of the Earth around the Sun.
Reset the simulation and adjust the Earth to half its normal mass. Press the play button and observe.
Does the mass of the Earth affect its orbital motion? Use evidence from the simulation to support your answer.
Does the mass of the Earth affect the force it feels from the Sun? Use evidence from the simulation to support your answer.
Reset the simulation and set the mass of the Sun to 1.5 times its normal mass. Press play and observe.
Reset the simulation and set the mass of the Sun to 2 times its normal mass. Press play and observe.
Reset the simulation and set the mass of the Sun to 0.75 times its normal mass. Press play and observe.
Reset the simulation and set the mass of the Sun to 0.5 times its normal mass. Press play and observe.
Does the mass of the Sun affect the orbital motion of the Earth? Use evidence from the simulation to support your answer.
What is the difference between the Sun being twice as massive and the Sun being 1.5 times as massive in terms of the Earth's orbit?
What is the difference between the Sun being half as massive and the Sun being 0.75 times as massive in terms of the Earth's orbit?
Reset the simulation and set the Earth's velocity vector to half its original value. Press play and observe. Repeat this experiment, setting the vector to only slightly less than its original value, slightly more than its original value, and twice its original value.
What is the relationship between the speed of the Earth and the shape of its orbit? Use evidence from the simulation to support your answer.
Use the simulation to place the Earth slightly closer to the Sun as its starting position and then slightly farther from the Sun as its starting position. How does its orbital radius affect the shape of its orbit?
Set the simulation so that the Earth has an elliptical (egg shaped) orbit. What do you observe about the force vectors and the velocity vectors as the Earth gets closer to and farther away from the Sun? Is this consistent with your idea of uniform circular motion?
Set the simulation to display the Earth, Moon, and Sun together. What do you notice about the path of the Moon? Why does it look this way?
Set the simulation to display only the Earth and the Moon. Why does the Moon's orbit look different?
Describe the motion of the Earth as the Moon progresses in its orbit. What is responsible for this motion?
Double the mass of the Moon, halve the mass of the Earth, and halve the Moon's velocity. What do you observe? What can be said about the relative motion of two satellites when their masses are very close to each other?
How long does it take the Earth to complete on revolution? What human time system is based on the revolving of the Earth on its axis?
How long does it take the Earth to complete 1 orbit? What human time system is based on the orbit of the Earth?
How long does it take the Moon to complete 1 orbit? What human time system is based on the orbit of the Moon?
The Earth actually takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete 1 orbit. How have humans adapted our time system to compensate?
Planet Project
Students, the Kinesthetic Interstellar Planetary Proposal, or K.I.P.P., has commissioned you to solve the growing overpopulation problem. The Earth is running out of room and we need more planets, pronto! K.I.P.P. has been authorized to offer generous amounts of points in exchange for contributions from top planetary scientists like yourselves. Answer the call and use your considerable creativity and expertise to develop a top notch planet fit for habitation today!
Task
To create your planet, you will be using the discoveries made by scientists like Newton and Kepler. You must master their knowledge and skills in order to be sure that your planet is a desirable place for humans to live. As part of this project your team will:
Calculate the amount of time it takes your planet to make a full revolution around the Sun (1year) based on the orbital radius of your planet.
Calculate the acceleration of gravity on the surface of your planet based on the mass and radius of your planet.
Calculate the number of days in 1 year on your planet based on its period of revolution.
Create a calendar for your planet, including fun pictures and holidays.
Create a travel brochure explaining what makes your planet unique and encouraging people to settle there.
Create a commercial where you reach out to the public and sell your planet as a travel destination.
Resources
Links
Planetary Statistics of Our Solar System
How to Make a Calendar Using Excel
Telling Time Using the Earth and Moon
How to Make a Commercial - video
Equations
Fg = Gm1m2/r2
T2/R3 = 2.97 x 10-19
ac = v2/r
Fnet = mv2/r
Process
Planet Specifics
Decide on a theme for your planet. What makes it unique? What makes it a place that other people would want to move to?
Determine how much the force of gravity will be on the surface of your planet. Choose your planet's radius and mass such that you achieve your desired gravitational pull.
Choose your planet's orbital radius and calculate its orbital period.
Choose the period of revolution on your planet and use it to calculate the number of days in your yearly calendar.
Brochure Specifics
Your brochure is the main source of information for your planet. Your brochure must include the following pages.
Cover Page/Title - Includes the name of the planet, a large picture of your planet, and a catchy slogan.
Physics of your planet - Include information on the mass, radius, orbital period, acceleration due to gravity/gravitational field strength, angle of tilt, how long a day is and how long a year is. Be specific. Use language that makes people excited to come to your planet.
Ecology Page - What type of life exists on your planet? What type of climate and geography? How is this climate related to the axial tilt/period of rotation of your planet? Why will Earth people prefer the ecology of your planet to the ecology of Earth? Describe what kind and how many seasons your planet has (i.e. what do you call them and how is the weather in that season). Relate the seasons back to the axial tilt and period of rotation of you planet.
Planetary Defense Page - How will the people of your planet choose to deal with life ending meteors? Describe the method employed on your planet. Explain the relative costs and benefits of your method.
Entertainment Page - How will people spend their free time on your planet? How do the unique traits of your planet make recreation different than on Earth? What new and exciting activities become possible?
Include the names of your team members and your class period.
Layout
The only pages that have to be placed in a specific area are the cover page and the back page. Pages 1-4 can be in any order, and are chosen from the physics page, ecology page, opportunities page, and entertainment page.
Page 1
Back Page
Cover Page
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Calendar Specifics
The number of days in your calendar should be carefully calculated based on your period of revolution, orbital radius, and orbital period.
You may arrange the number of days in a week, or days in a month any way that you like.
You may name the days of the week and the months however you like. Be creative.
Choose national holidays and include them on your calendar. What does your planet want to celebrate? There should be at least one holiday per month.
Choose appropriate pictures for the months of your calendar.
Commercial Specifics
Commercials should be exciting and should reflect the unique theme of your planet.
Commercials should explain the unique properties of the planet and urge the viewers to choose your planet instead of the planet Earth to live on.
Commercials should be no more than 3 minutes in length.
Commercials must be saved in a either a .mov or .mp4 format. They can either be brought on a flash drive, emailed to christopherkipp@clovisusd.k12.ca.us, or uploaded to youtube. Youtube is easiest.
Homework: Watch this video.