Kepler's Laws Visualization

Interactive visualization of Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.

Kepler's Laws Visualization

Adjust the eccentricity to see how planetary orbits change. Toggle the area sweep to visualize Kepler's Second Law (Equal Areas in Equal Time).

Sun (Focus) Planet Empty Focus Swept Area

Physics Note

1st Law: The orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
2nd Law: The planet moves faster near the perihelion (closest point) and slower near the aphelion (farthest point) to sweep equal areas in equal time.