Derive Keplers 3rd law

Equate gravitational force (GMm/r^2) to centripetal force (mv^2/r). Rearrange to get v^2=GM/r. Due to the approximated circular orbit v=2pir/T so v^2=4pi^2r^2/T^2. Therefore GM/r=4pi^2r^2/T^2. Rearranging gives GM=4pi^2r^3/T^2. Rearranging futher gets T^2=(4pi^2/GM)r^3. Hence T^2 is proportional to r^3.

MS

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How does the photoelectric effect provide evidence for a particulate nature of electromagnetic radiation?


Explain how bright fringes arise in Young's double slit experiment


A projectile is launched with a speed of 10m/s at an angle 30 degrees from the positive x axis. What is the range of the projectile?


A motorist traveling at 10m/s, was able to bring his car to rest in a distance of 10m. If he had been traveling at 30m/s, in what distance could he bring his cart to rest using the same breaking force?