Strategic

Intervention
Material

Prepared by:
RUDULA M. AMPER
PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHER
SST-II
Main Task:

Apply Kepler’s 3rd Law of

Planetary Motion to objects in the solar
system.

Sub-Task:

Describe the relationship between a

planet’s period and its distance from the
sun.

INSIDE THE SIM

1. COVER PAGE 6. ASSESSMENT CARD
2. LEAST MASTERED SKILL 7. ENRICHMENT CARD
3. TITLE CARD 8. ANSWER CARD
4. GUIDE CARD 9. REFERENCE CARD
5. ACTIVITY CARDS
( Activity # 1-3)
 TITLE CARD
KEPLER’S 3RD LAW OF
PLANETARY MOTION
Can you recall the significant contribution of Johannes Kepler in modern astronomy?
His contribution helped prove that planet is indeed constantly moves, spins or gyrates about
its axis as it revolves around the sun.
Johannes Kepler served as an assistant to Tycho Brahe. He inherited the numerous
observational data on planetary motion when Brahe died. Using Brahe’s extensive data on
Mars, Kepler was able to formulate his three laws of planetary motion. One of these laws is
the Kepler’s 3rd Law which is known as the Law of Harmonies.
Kepler’s third law (law of harmonies) states that the squares of the periods of the
planets are proportional to the cubes of their mean distances from the sun. Period is the time
it takes to make one complete revolution around the sun. In symbols,
𝑻𝟏 𝟐 ⅆ𝟏 𝟑
( ) =( )
𝑻𝟐 ⅆ𝒛
where T1 and T2 are the periods, and d1 and d2 are the mean distances of planets 1
and 2 from the sun, respectively.
Planetary distances from the sun are normally expresses in astronomical units, or AU.
One AU is equal to the mean distance between Earth and the sun. Note: 1 AU = 149597871
kilometers
In formula…
d3=T2 where d is the object’s distance in A.U,
and T is the period in years
The period of other planets is usually compared to that of Earth, which is a year.
In formula…

T2=d3 where T is the period in years

and d is the object’s distance in A.U
 GUIDE CARD
Is it easy to measure the complete revolution of
a planet and other objects around the sun? Can
you measure the periods and mean distances of
planets and other objects from the sun without
applying mathematical laws and symbols? You
know that there are several ways to get the precise
measurement of planets and other objects in the
solar system. But, how will you describe the
relationship between a planet’s period and its
distance from the sun applying the Kepler’s 3rd
Law of Planetary Motion (Law of Harmonies)?
I hope that this intervention material will guide
you find solution to your problem as how the
Kepler’s 3rd Law of Planetary Motion is applied in
measuring the periods and distances of planets
from the sun and its relationship.

THE MATERIAL CONTAINS THE

FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
Activity 1: IT’S A MATTER OF HARMONY
Activity 2: OBEY THE LAW!
Activity 3: RELATIONSHIP MATTERS!
 ACTIVITY CARD 1

IT’S A MATTER OF HARMONY

Applying the law of harmony, solve the following
problems:
1. Jupiter orbits the Sun at 5.20 AU. Find its
period in years.

2. It takes Neptune 165 years to orbit the sun. Find

its distance from the Sun in AU.

3. Venus orbits the Sun in about 223(Earth) days.

How far is Venus from the Sun?
 Write your answer here
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WOW!!! You made it!
Now it’s time to level up, I
know you can do it.
I trust your ability.
 ACTIVITY CARD 2

OBEY THE LAW!

1. Comets, as one of the objects in the solar

system also obey Kepler’s 3rd Law. The famous
one is Halley’s Comet, with an orbital period of
75.3 years and a mean distance of 17.55 au.
Compute the ratio of the orbital period(T2) and
mean distance (d3).

2. Based on your answer in number 1, how

would you describe the ratio between the
orbital periods and mean distances of comets
in the solar system?

TRY THIS!
I know you can make it!
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___
Great JOB!!!
You are very good.
So, it’s time to move forward.
 ACTIVITY CARD 3
RELATIONSHIP MATTERS!
Here is a table of periods and mean distances of selected planets and
comet, as well as the ratio T2/d3.

Planet Period Mean Distance Ratio

(yr) (AU) (T2/d3)
Venus 0.615 0.72 1.01
Mars 1.88 1.52 1.01
Saturn 29.5 9.54 1.00
Comet
Halley’s Comet 75.3 17.55 1.05

1. How would you describe the relationship of

period and mean distances of planets and comet
in terms of its ratio?

OPEN YOUR MIND

We are about to make it!
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CONGRATS!!! We are
almost done. Are you
ready for the next challenge?
 ASSESSMENT CARD
ENHANCE YOUR MIND!!!
SOLVE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Given :

Mean Distance of Jupiter from the sun =

5.20
Unknown: T2

2. Given :

Orbital Period of Uranus = 84.0

Unknown: d3

3.
GREAT JOB!!!
Let’s Move on.
 ENRICHMENT CARD
Find a partner and complete the table below by filling missing cell.

Planet Period in Mean

Year Distance Ratio
(T2) in AU. (T2/d3)
(d3)
Mercury .241 0.39 .98
Venus .615 0.72 1.01
Earth 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mars 1.88 1.52 1.01
Jupiter a._____ 5.20 0.99
Saturn 29.5 b.___ 1.00
Uranus c.____ 19.18 1.00
Neptune 165 d.___ 1.00
Pluto 248 39.44 e.____

Excellent!!!
You made it!
 ANSWER CARD
Activity Card 1. Activity Card 2

1.) Given : d = 5.20 AU 1. Given :

T=? T = 75.3 years
R = 17.55 AU
T2 = d3
= (5.20)2 T2 (75.3)2
R3 = (17.55)3 = 1.048
T= √140.608
T = 11.8 years

2. ) Given: T = 165 years 2. The ratio between the orbital

d=? period and mean distance of
halley’s comet in the solar
d3 = T2 system is approximately equal
= (165)2 to one.
d=
∛27225
d = 30.08 AU Activity Card 3
1. The relationship between the
period and mean distances of
3. Given : T = 223 days x 1year___ all planets and comet is nearly
365 days
= 0.61 years
of the same value which is
approximately equal to one.
d=?

d3 = T2 ASSESSMENT KEY
= (0.61)2 1. 11.8 years
= 0.3721 2. 84.0 AU
d = ∛0.3721
= 0.72 AU ENRICHMENT KEY
a. 11.8
b. 9.54
c. 84.0
d. 30.08
e. 1.00
 REFERENCE CARD

BOOKS

 Exploring Life Through Science – Physical Science (2016) Santiago, Karen, et.al.
Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. (pp. 143-144)
 Introduction to Physical Science – Shipman, James T. et.al. Singapore: Cengage
Learning
 Planetary Motion: A Historical Perspectives. Hetherington, Norriss S. USA:
Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006.

WEBLINKS

 http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov
 http://www.boundless.com
 https://www.windows2universe.org
 http://www.hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/kepler.html
Always remember:
Planets move in ellipses with the sun,
minds develop in harmony with the
heart.
Keep it up!
 PHYSICAL SCIENCE

TOPIC FREQUENCY OF ERRORS

1. Tycho Brahe’s Universe 2%

2. Galileo’s Astronomical 5%
Observations

3. Kepler’s Law of 63%

Planetary Motion
30%
4. The Analema

TOTAL 100%