Physics A-Level
Elliptical planetary orbits
What Elliptical planetary orbits means in Physics A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Elliptical planetary orbits
Check what you remember
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Reference: OCR
Each planet moves in an ellipse with the Sun at one focus, not at the geometric centre.
Topics that use Elliptical planetary orbits
- Planetary motion (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Circular orbital motion
- Equal areas in equal times
- Geostationary orbit
- Geosynchronous orbit
- Gravitational force as the centripetal force
- Period–semi-major-axis relationship
- Uses of geostationary satellites
- Derivation of Kepler's third law
Using Elliptical planetary orbits in the exam
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