write notes on orbits of planetary bodies

Answer 1

- Planetary orbits are the paths that planets follow as they revolve around a star, typically the sun.
- The shape of a planet's orbit is generally elliptical, meaning it is elongated and not perfectly circular.
- Kepler's laws of planetary motion help explain the characteristics of these orbits.
- According to Kepler's first law, known as the law of orbits, planets move in elliptical paths with the sun at one of the foci of the ellipse.
- The eccentricity of an orbit determines how elongated or circular it is. A perfectly circular orbit has an eccentricity of 0, while increasingly elongated orbits have eccentricities between 0 and 1.
- Kepler's second law, or the law of areas, states that a planet moves faster when it is closer to the sun and slower when it is farther away. This means that a planet covers equal areas in equal times.
- The distance between a planet and the sun varies as it moves along its elliptical orbit. The point of closest approach to the sun is called perihelion, while the farthest point is called aphelion.
- The time it takes for a planet to complete one orbit around the sun is known as its orbital period. This period varies for different planets and depends on their distance from the sun.
- The inclination of a planetary orbit describes the angle between the plane of the planet's orbit and the plane of the ecliptic, which is the path in which Earth orbits the sun.
- Some planets have relatively circular and nearly coplanar orbits, while others have more eccentric and inclined orbits.
- Gravity plays a crucial role in determining the shape and stability of planetary orbits. The gravitational force between the planet and the sun keeps the planet in its orbit.