Kepler's Laws
This interactive simulator explores Kepler's Laws in Gravity & Orbits. Elliptical orbits with equal-area sweeps visualized. Use the controls to change the scenario; watch the visualization and any graphs or readouts to connect the model with lectures, labs, and homework.
Who it's for: Best once you already know the basic definitions and want to build intuition. Typical context: Gravity & Orbits.
Key terms
- kepler's
- laws
- keplers laws
- gravity
- orbits
How it works
Kepler I: bound orbits are ellipses with the central mass at one focus. Kepler II: the radius vector sweeps equal areas in equal times — here, colored wedges use equal Δt and should have nearly equal area (numerical spread shown). Kepler III: for this two-body model, T² ∝ a³ with constant GM; adjust a and GM and watch T²/a³ track the inverse of GM scaling.
Key equations
More from Gravity & Orbits
Other simulators in this category — or see all 14.
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Gravitational Lensing
Massive objects bending light. Visual distortion effects.
Lagrange Points L1–L5
CRTBP effective potential; L1–L5; Coriolis test particle.
Earth–Moon Tides
Equilibrium tide bulges; orbit speed; ~12.4 h spacing note.
Binary Star (circular)
COM orbits; r₁,r₂; Kepler T² ∝ a³/(M₁+M₂).
Roche Limit
Fluid d ≈ 2.456 R_p (ρ_p/ρ_s)^(1/3); vs orbit distance.