Re: planetary orbits

[Wes Davis <wlrdavis@EARTHLINK.NET>]

I do an activity that was re-published in TPT by Harold Cohen a couple of
years ago.  It involves plotting the orbit of a (fictitious) asteroid on
polar graph paper, then using the plot to verify all three of Kepler's Laws.
It's quite a good lab, and you should be able to find it easily with the new
TPT search engine.




----- Original Message -----
From: "Justin Parke" <FIZIX29@AOL.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 7:37 AM
Subject: planetary orbits


> I am teaching astronomy for the first time this year (high school) and
recall seeing an activity in the past where the student would plot the orbit
of (mars? mercury?) based on the dates of greatest elongation or opposition.
It was a "kepler's first law" activity.  I have searched the internet to no
avail.  Is anyone else familiar with what I am talking about.  Any
assistance is appreciated.
> Justin Parke
> Oakland Mills High School
> Columbia, MD