THE SCIENCE OF ORBITS

MATERIALS

• A cup
• A Thread or string
• Tape
• A washer ( a penny can work)

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man than the thoughtless approval of the masses", Johannes Kepler.

Purpose:To better Understand Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
Question:Using two levels of force and directions how many orbits will my hypothetical satellite make around my hypothetical planet.

Hypothesis:If I use a just right amount of source and very slightly, it will always increase it's orbits, no matter which direction it's traveling.

Procedure
.Tie the string to the washer or tape the string on the penny
.Tape other end on a overhanging ledge
. Push the "satellite" lightly at first in one direction and then hard after, using the same levels of force, just change the direction in which you push.

RESULTS

• Test 1 ( light push ) 9 orbits
• Test 2 ( heavy push ) 22 orbits
• Test 3 ( light push different direction ) 4 orbits
• Test 4 ( heavy push different direction) 10 orbits

REFLECTION/ ERRORS

• First this is similar to newtons hypothetical cannon
• One source of error could be wind level, aiding one direction or hindering the other.

Conclusion
I personally love astronomy and physics so this was a obvious choice. Kepler created some of the most fundamental laws in astronomy. These materials were cheap and easy to find but they cover some of the most important scientific findings in history.