Orbital mechanics

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/orbital-mechanics

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is orbital mechanics?Orbital mechanics is the study of how gravity makes planets, moons, and rockets move in space without crashing into each other. It uses Newton’s laws and gravity to explain the paths they follow.
2. Why do planets travel in ellipses instead of perfect circles?Kepler’s first law says planets move in ellipses, not circles, because the Sun’s gravity pulls them more strongly when they are closer. This shape lets them speed up and slow down as they travel.

Centripetal Force: A force that acts on a body moving in a circular path, directing it towards the center.
Hohmann Transfer Orbit: An elliptical orbit used to transfer between two circular orbits in the same plane.
Delta-v: A change in velocity required for a spacecraft to alter its orbit or trajectory.