Interactive Orbit Simulator

This simple simulator lets you explore Kepler's laws by adjusting orbital parameters and watching the result. It demonstrates how eccentricity affects orbit shape (First Law), how the planet speeds up near perihelion (Second Law), and how period depends on distance (Third Law).

What to Observe

• Increase eccentricity and notice how the orbit becomes more elongated and the planet speeds up dramatically near the Sun.
• Decrease eccentricity toward 0 and the orbit becomes nearly circular with more uniform speed.
• The radius line always sweeps area at the same rate—this is the Second Law in action.

For a physical version of a related activity, try the string-and-pins ellipse or the equal areas demonstration.