The Solar System — Supplement Learning Objectives
Summary
- Know that planets, minor planets and comets have elliptical orbits, and recall that the Sun is not at the centre of the elliptical orbit, except when the orbit is approximately circular
- Analyse and interpret planetary data about orbital distance, orbital duration, density, surface temperature and uniform gravitational field strength at the planet's surface
- Know that the strength of the Sun's gravitational field decreases and that the orbital speeds of the planets decrease as the distance from the Sun increases
- Know that an object in an elliptical orbit travels faster when closer to the Sun and explain this using the conservation of energy
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