A geometric method to locate Neptune

Bhatnagar, Siddharth and Vyasanakere, Jayanth and Murthy, Jayant (2021) A geometric method to locate Neptune. American Journal of Physics, 89 (454).

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Abstract

We develop a direct geometric method to determine the orbital parameters and mass of a planet, and we then apply the method to Neptune using high-precision data for the other planets in the solar system. The method is direct in the sense that it does not involve curve fitting. This paper, thereby, offers a new pedagogical approach to orbital mechanics that could be valuable in a physics classroom.

Item Type:	Article
Authors:	Bhatnagar, Siddharth and Vyasanakere, Jayanth and Murthy, Jayant
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Classical physics, physics Education, Planet, Discovery of Neptune, Neptune, Equation of motion
Subjects:	Natural Sciences > Physics
Divisions:	Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > School of Arts and Sciences
Full Text Status:	Restricted
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/2478
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0003349

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