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 ▸

State Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction


Why is 0°C ice more effective at cooling a drink than 0°C water of the same mass?


Show that the radius of an orbit may be expressed as follows: R^3=((GM)/4*pi^2)T^2


Why do skydivers have a terminal velocity?