Stimulating Understanding of Computational science through Collaboration, Exploration, Experiment, and Discovery for students with Hearing Impairments
a collaboration of the Shodor Education Foundation, Inc., Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, Barton College, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and Interpreters, Inc.

For Teachers!

Calculating Orbital Speeds

Overview:

In this lesson the students explore the regularities of planetary motion. They will learn that the moon's speed isn't constant. They will create a spreadsheet to calculate the speed of any orbiting body at apogee and perigee. With their spreadsheet they will be able to compare the speeds of planets, moons, comets and asteroids.

Goals and objectives: 

The students will learn about the regularities of planetary motions. 
The students will learn how the theories of planetary motions were developed. 
The students will learn about the shape and characteristics of orbits. 
The students will learn how the speed of the moon varies at different places in its orbit. 

The students will gain first hand experience with the kinds of calculations rocket scientists perform. 
The students will apply Algebra and Geometry skills to scientific applications. 
The students will practice spreadsheet development.

Student Prerequisites: 

Students need to be familiar with spreadsheet construction: formatting cell, copying cells, putting formulas in cells.   

Materials Needed: 

Computers with spreadsheets and internet access or CD with this lesson.

Developed by
The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.

Copyright © 1999-2001 by The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Science Foundation.