Mobile phone-integrated demonstration of Kepler’s second law of planetary motion and the conservation law of angular momentum

Lead Researcher(s): Flora Mae Ruiz^*, Michael Gavriel Reyes, Hannah Yuson, Belfry Ruiz, Unofre Pili
Status: Published

Abstract/summary: Kepler’s second law states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals as it orbits the Sun. The principle is intrinsically linked to the conservation of angular momentum. However, its exploration may be challenging for students mainly due to the complex nature of determining the area of a sector of the chosen planet’s elliptical orbit. This article introduces a simpler and faster way of demonstrating the mentioned fundamental laws by integrating smartphone-based measurements through the mobile application Petiole Pro (or alternatively LeafByte for iOS). With readily available orbital data of planets and comets that can be extracted online, this study provides an accessible and easier method for students and educators to visualize and understand celestial mechanics using a smartphone application.