Kepler's Law of Areas: Radially Directed Force

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SUMMARY

Kepler's Law of Areas states that a satellite's angular momentum about a central point is conserved when influenced by a radially directed force. This conservation implies that any off-center force would introduce torque, disrupting angular momentum conservation. The discussion emphasizes the direct relationship between radial forces and the preservation of angular momentum, clarifying the fundamental principles of orbital mechanics.

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DM107
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Hi,

Just wanted to know how can we attribute the kepler's law of areas to a radially directed force?
 
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DM107 said:
Just wanted to know how can we attribute the kepler's law of areas to a radially directed force?
The law of areas amounts to a statement that the angular momentum of a satellite about a central point is conserved. If there were an off-center force, that would amount to a torque and angular momentum would not be conserved.
 
I think you may need to elaborate on the question.
 

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