Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Kepler's 2nd Law states that as a planet moves around its elliptical orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals. This means that planets move faster when they are closer to the Sun and slower when they are farther away.
Related terms
Elliptical orbit: An elliptical orbit is a path followed by an object (such as a planet) around another under gravitational attraction, shaped like an elongated circle or oval.
Gravitational force: Gravitational force is the attractive force between two objects with mass. It is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the Sun and moons around planets.
Orbital period: The orbital period is the time it takes for an object to complete one full revolution around another object. In the case of planets, it represents their year.