Kepler's Second Law, also called the Law of Areas, states that the area of a line between a planet and the sun.....
A). is different for different amounts of time
B). increases as the planet approaches the sun
C). is constant for equal amounts of time
D). is constant because planets move at a constant speed
C). is constant for equal amounts of time
C). is constant for equal amounts of time
The correct answer to Kepler's Second Law, also known as the Law of Areas, is C) The area of a line between a planet and the sun is constant for equal amounts of time.
To understand why this is the correct answer, let's break down Kepler's Second Law and how it relates to the motion of planets.
Kepler's Second Law states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals as it orbits the sun. In simpler terms, this means that as a planet moves along its elliptical orbit, it covers the same amount of area in equal time intervals.
Here's an explanation of why this law is true:
1. Planets move in elliptical orbits: Unlike a perfect circle, a planet's orbit around the sun is an ellipse. The sun is located at one of the ellipse's foci. As a planet moves along its elliptical path, it will sometimes be closer to the sun (perihelion) and sometimes farther away (aphelion).
2. A planet moves faster when closer to the sun: The Law of Equal Areas is a consequence of the conservation of angular momentum in orbital motion. According to this law, when a planet is closer to the sun, it moves at a faster speed than when it is farther away. This is because the gravitational pull of the sun is stronger when the planet is closer.
3. The sweeping out of equal areas: Due to the varying speed of a planet along its elliptical orbit, it covers more distance in a given amount of time when it is closer to the sun. Conversely, it covers less distance in the same amount of time when it is farther from the sun. As a result, the area swept out by the planet in a specific time interval is the same, regardless of its position along the elliptical orbit.
In conclusion, Kepler's Second Law states that the area of a line between a planet and the sun is constant for equal amounts of time. The law illustrates the relationship between a planet's orbital speed and its position around the sun, reflecting the conservation of angular momentum in planetary motion.