Introduction

In introductory physics classes, we learn Newton's laws of motion and his law of gravity, as well as Kepler's laws for planetary motions. However, we usually make some simplifications which do not necessarily reflect on the true picture. Prominent among these simplifications are:

1. All bodies are represented as point masses.
2. The gravitational field of a body is spherically symmetric.
3. The central body (Sun or Earth) is fixed in space.
4. There are only two bodies in any given problem, one of which doesn't move.
5. Masses don't change.

The object of this class is to investigate these restrictions in the setting of satellites in orbit around earth, however, we could easily extend this to the solar system.

One other limitation of the way we study orbital motion in elementary physics is, that we look at the planet circling the the sun from an outside vantage point as if it where a clock work model. However, in reality we are sitting on one of the bodies and are a moving observer. The connections between the simple motions of earth and its satellite and the observations will also be studied.