Mass of Jupiter using Kelper's Third Law
By: keen321@yahoo.com, jzhongzhi@gmail.com, k.kiranchand21@gmail.com
Abstract
The weight (or the mass) of a planet is determined by its gravitational effect on other bodies. Newton's Law of Gravitation states that every bit of matter in the universe attracts every other with a gravitational force that is proportional to its mass. For objects of the size we encounter in everyday life, this force is so minuscule that we don't notice it. However for objects the size of planets or stars, it is of great importance.In order to use gravity to find the mass of a planet, we must somehow measure the strength of its "tug" on another object. If the planet in question has a moon (a natural satellite), then nature has already done the work for us. By observing the time it takes for the satellite to orbit its primary planet, we can utilize Newton's equations to infer what the mass of the planet must be.
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