Module 3 Activity: Part 1

Here in Part 1 of the Module 3 Activity, we're going to investigate the shapes of the planets' orbits.

To do this, we'll use a computer `simulator' created at the University of Nebraska.

Note: If you can't run these animations in your browser, make sure to look at the videos designed to help you with the Module 3 Activity.

Your first step is to right-click on the image below, and open the simulator in a new browser tab or a new browser window. Your browser may ask you to enable Adobe Flash. (If you're using a laptop with a trackpad, you may need to do the equivalent of a right-click, such as CTRL-click on a Mac laptop.)

Once you've got the Planetary Orbit Simulator opened in a new browser tab or a new browser window, do the following things to make sure it's set up correctly:

• In the lower-left part of the screen, make sure you're on the Kepler's 1st Law tab.
• Click "show empty focus".
• In the upper-right part of the screen, click "set parameters for Mercury" and click OK.
• You can start and pause the animation, and you can change the speed with the "animation rate".

Notice that you can read the value of the orbit's eccentricity from a window in the "Orbit Settings" area.

Your scores and feedback comments for this part of the Module 3 Activity will be available October 23rd at 10pm.