Kepler's Third Law: Mass of Sun and Newton's Law

AI Thread Summary
Kepler's Third Law allows for the determination of the Sun's mass through the relationship between the orbital periods and semi-major axes of planets. However, this calculation cannot be made using Kepler's law alone; Newton's law of gravitation is essential for deriving the mass. By comparing the ratios of different planetary orbits, one can infer the mass of the Sun indirectly. The discussion emphasizes the interdependence of Kepler's and Newton's laws in understanding celestial mechanics. Ultimately, both laws are necessary for accurate calculations regarding the mass of the Sun.
The legend
Messages
420
Reaction score
0
I read somewhere that the mass of the sun can be determined using Keplers third law. How is this possible without indulging Newton's law(gravitation) in ?:confused:
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
It can be determined using kepler's third law, but not with kepler's third law alone. Only the ratios of different periods and semi-major axes can be compared with kepler's third law.
 
That's what i felt.. thanks for the reply :approve:
 

Thread 'Potential biosignature found in Mars rock'

Publication: Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars Article: NASA Says Mars Rover Discovered Potential Biosignature Last Year Press conference The ~100 authors don't find a good way this could have formed without life, but also can't rule it out. Now that they have shared their findings with the larger community someone else might find an explanation - or maybe it was actually made by life.
View full post »

Thread 'Does it make sense to build new radio telescopes?'

TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
View full post »
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Separating Masses in Kepler's Third Law
Replies
1
Views
2K
B Proof of inverse square law for gravitation?
Replies
18
Views
2K
B How Does a Massive Planet's Orbit Around the Sun Appear?
Replies
6
Views
2K
I Estimating Mass of Central Object Using S2's Orbit Motion and Kepler's 3rd Law
Replies
3
Views
2K
Kepler's Laws: Definition & Equations
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Data Model of Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion
Replies
1
Views
2K
B Question: Orbital mechanics of a binary star system
Replies
5
Views
2K
I Kepler orbits for planets of similar masses
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Newton's 3rd law and ether in space
Replies
3
Views
1K
I Does the electrical force also respect the Kepler Laws?
Replies
15
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top