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 ▸

A cricketer throws a ball vertically upwards so that the ball leaves his hands at a speed of 25 m/s. Calculate the maximum height reached by the ball, the time taken to reach max. height, and the speed of the ball when it is at 50% max. height.


Bernard says that a mass executing uniform circular motion is not accelerating as it's speed is not changing. Which parts of his statement are correct and which are false. For those which are false state why they are and give the correct version.


A boy (25kg) and a girl (20kg) are playing on a see-saw which is 4m long. If the boy sits 1m from the centre on the left side and the girl 2m from the centre on the other, which direction will the see-saw will rotate around its centre?


How can I describe the motion of an object falling, due to gravity, through a fluid? And when does the object reach terminal velocity?