In: Physics
Explore gravitational forces, especially as they apply to circular and elliptical orbits.
1. With a big mass and a little one, simulate some orbits. What's necessary for there to be orbital motion? What kinds of orbital shapes can you make? What does the big mass do?
2. Try to make a circular orbit. Write down some observations about that process. Once you can do that pretty well, make another orbit at the same radius, but with a heavier planet how is this different (or not) from the previous orbit? What about circular orbits that are different distances from the big mass do they move faster/slower? ...are their orbital periods (time for an orbit) shorter or longer?
3. How does an object move differently in the different parts of an elliptical orbit?
4. How do different elliptical orbits compare in orbital period?
5. What happens if you make a big mass "orbit" another big mass that looks different from what you've seen before? When does that start happening what sorts of masses do this?