Name___________________
Date______________
The purpose of this virtual lab is to take astronomical observations and determine the
orbital velocity and period for a moon as it orbits it’s planet. You will also calculate the acceleration
due to gravity on the surface of that planet.
1. Find a single lab partner and sign out a computer. Log in to the computer and open the internet
browser.
2. Visit the website www.solarviews.org/eng/data.htm
3. Choose a planet which has a moon (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune) and a moon for
that planet. Stay away from Pluto and Charon- the information is too vague. Do not use a moon
which has question marks for data, this information is not know- choose another moon.
4. Record the following information from the website into the spaces provided- mass (kg) and
radius of planet, and mean distance from planet. These values will be used for the calculations.
5. Record the following information from the website into the spaces provided- orbital period of
moon, mean orbital velocity of moon, equatorial surface gravity for the planet. Ignore any signs,
that means the moon orbits in the other direction. These values are the theoretical values that
you will compare your calculations to.
6. Convert all figures so that the units are in kg, m, and s.
7. Choose a new planet and repeat steps 4-6 for a total of three planet/moon combinations.
8. Put the computer away.
9. Using the information provided by the website, calculate the orbital velocity of the moon, the
orbital period of the moon, and the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the planet. Note:
The acceleration due to gravity calculation should be “in the neighborhood” of the value given
on the website. The acceleration due to gravity for Saturn will be off by a full number.
10. Perform a percent error calculation comparing your “experimental” orbital velocity to the
theoretical orbital velocity. If your error is larger that a few percent, try your velocity calculation
again.
11. Check your work. Data table information in bold italics is there for you to compare your
answers to the actual values.
Name___________________
Date______________
Planet = ________________________
kg
Mass of Planet
Radius of
Planet
Equatorial
Surface Gravity
Moon = _________________________
Distance from
Planet
Orbital Velocity
of Moon
Orbital Period of
Moon
km
m
m/s2
km
m
km/s
m/s
days
seconds
Orbital Velocity Calculation
Orbital Period Calculation
Acceleration Due To Gravity on Planet Calculation
Orbital Velocity Percent Error Calculation
Planet = ________________________
kg
Mass of Planet
Radius of
Planet
Equatorial
Surface Gravity
Moon = _________________________
Distance from
Planet
Orbital Velocity
of Moon
Orbital Period of
Moon
km
m
m/s2
km
m
km/s
m/s
days
seconds
Orbital Velocity Calculation
Orbital Period Calculation
Acceleration Due To Gravity on Planet Calculation
Orbital Velocity Percent Error Calculation