What are Kepler’s Laws? Science answers!

Since its inception, humanity has curiously observed the night sky and tried to understand what is happening around us. Astronomer Johannes Kepler was one of the first scientists to study this topic in more depth. In order to better understand the functioning of the Solar System, he explained the movement of the planets around the Sun with Kepler’s laws.

Like many other scientists of the past, Kepler believed that planets moved in circular orbits. For example, the idea suggests that the Earth could rotate in a completely circular motion; This is not true.

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explains in an official publication: Realizing that the orbits were not exactly circular but elliptical, Kepler was led to reevaluate this idea.

The main difference is that an ellipse is a type of circle that is slightly elongated or flattened. Although it may seem like a small difference, Understanding this feature was extremely important for science..

“The utility of Kepler’s laws extends to the motions of natural and artificial satellites, as well as star systems and extrasolar planets. The laws as formulated by Kepler do, of course, not take into account the gravitational interactions (as perturbing effects) of the various planets on each other,” explains the encyclopedia Britannica.

Who was Johannes Kepler

German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler in 1609 He published the book Astronomia Nova, when he first presented the first two laws of planetary motion. In 1618 he published the third law – later known under the homonymous title.

The discovery revolutionized the history of astronomy, because at that time many scientists had different ideas about the motion of celestial bodies. But Kepler was thinking about these features long before the publication of his most famous book; In 1596 he defended the arguments in favor of the heliocentric model in his Mysterium Cosmographicum.

In summary, Heliocentrism is the theory that places the Sun at the center of the Solar System. However, in the past, many scientists followed the idea of ​​the geocentric model and believed that the Earth was the center of the universe.

It is important to emphasize that Kepler was able to develop the laws of planetary motion only thanks to the work and observations of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.Another scientist who made significant contributions to astronomy.

In addition to explaining the motion of the planets around the Sun, Kepler’s calculations are also valid for the motions of natural satellites such as the Moon and artificial satellites. Like those who provide internet to all parts of the world.

What are Kepler’s laws?

Although Kepler was responsible for discovering and formulating the laws of planetary motion in the early 17th century, his importance was not widely recognized until decades later. Especially after the work of English mathematician and physicist Isaac Newton, who related these laws to universal gravitation.

Discover Kepler’s three laws:

• First law: all planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun;
• Second law: Planets move faster when they approach the Sun and slower when they are farther away.
• Third law: The square of a planet’s orbital period (the time required to complete one revolution around the Sun) is proportional to the cube of the average distance between the planet and the Sun.

In the context of science, Kepler’s work significantly influenced the lives of other scientists such as Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. and continues to be used to this day to understand the orbits of celestial bodies in the universe. So, did you know what Kepler’s three laws are?

Did you like the content? So stay updated with more topics like this on TecMundo and take the opportunity to read about the gravitational force and why planetary orbits are not perfect. Until next time!