Kepler's Laws and Planetary Motion - Fundamentals of Physics

Explore the intricacies of gravitational interaction in this comprehensive lecture from Yale University's Fundamentals of Physics course. Delve into Kepler's three laws of planetary motion and their application to planets orbiting the Sun. Begin with a review of conservative and non-conservative forces before examining the derivation of gravitational force. Learn how to calculate orbital periods and speeds in space, and understand the law of conservation of energy as it applies to objects far from Earth's surface. Conclude by exploring the concept of reference potential energy at infinity or Earth's surface. This 72-minute video lecture, part of a series recorded in Fall 2006, offers a thorough examination of key principles in physics and celestial mechanics.