Unit III: Virtual Simulation Assignment
Open the “Gravity and Orbits” PhET simulation:
Review the video PhET Gravity & Orbits to familiarize yourself with the various functions of the simulation before beginning your assignment.
Explore the orbital motion of the five different gravitational systems, A through E, through a virtual simulation provided by PhET.
Fill out the masses of the star and the planet.
Also measure the orbital radius and the period of the system in the Excel worksheet (highlighted area). Learn about the properties of orbital shape, escape velocity, and Kepler’s third law.
View the PhET “Gravity and Orbits” Interactive Simulation.
Use the Unit III Virtual Simulation Assignment Excel Worksheet for this unit.
Open the “Gravity and Orbits” PhET simulation, fill out the masses of the star and the planet, then measure the orbital radius and the period of the system in the Excel worksheet (highlighted area).
