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Grade 12 Kepler's Laws & Orbits Worksheet with Answers

Grade 12 (US) · Year 13 (UK) · Class 12 (India) · Physics

Unit 1: MechanicsOrbitsNGSS HS-ESS1-4

Using Kepler's third law (T² = a³) to relate a planet's orbit size and period. This free high school worksheet has 12 questions and a full answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF — every answer is checked by code, not guessed.

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Kepler's Laws & Orbits

Grade 12 · Physics

Score___ / 12

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Class

Date

Learning goal: Orbits · NGSS HS-ESS1-4

Directions: Read each question carefully and write your answer on the line.

RememberOrbits and stars

1. Orbits are ellipses, Sun at one focus.2. Planets move faster near the Sun.3. T² ∝ a³ (farther = longer year)Stars: nebula → star → red giant→ white dwarf (or supernova)
  1. 1

    What shape is a planet's orbit, according to Kepler's first law?

  2. 2

    Using T² = a³ (T in years, a in AU), what is the orbital period of an object at 25 AU?

  3. 3

    Where is a planet moving slowest in its orbit?

  4. 4

    Using T² = a³ (T in years, a in AU), what is the orbital period of an object at 9 AU?

  5. 5

    Who discovered the three laws of planetary motion?

  6. 6

    What is one astronomical unit (AU)?

  7. 7

    What is a planet's orbital period?

  8. 8

    Using T² = a³ (T in years, a in AU), what is the orbital period of an object at 4 AU?

  9. 9

    According to Kepler's second law, does a planet move faster or slower when it is closer to the sun?

  10. 10

    Using T² = a³ (T in years, a in AU), what is the orbital period of an object at 1 AU?

  11. 11

    Using T² = a³ (T in years, a in AU), what is the orbital period of an object at 16 AU?

  12. 12

    Do planets farther from the sun take more or less time to orbit?

★ Challenge corner for fast finishers

Why does a spinning ice skater spin faster when she pulls her arms in?

How did I do?

Teacher's comments

Free printable worksheets with answer keys · aethelsystems.com/worksheets/physics/12/keplers_laws

Answer key (click to show)
  1. 1.an ellipse, with the sun at one focus
  2. 2.125 years
  3. 3.at its farthest point from the sun (aphelion)
  4. 4.27 years
  5. 5.Johannes Kepler
  6. 6.the average distance from Earth to the sun
  7. 7.the time it takes to orbit the sun once
  8. 8.8 years
  9. 9.faster
  10. 10.1 years
  11. 11.64 years
  12. 12.more time
  13. ★conservation of angular momentum (challenge corner)

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