The Mechanical
Engineering Handbook




Orbital Period (Kepler's Third Law) Calculator












How This Is Calculated



T2=4π2a3GM where:

T   =   Orbital Period   (s)

a   =   Length of the semi-major axis   (m)

G   =   Gravitational Constant   (6.674 x 10-11 Nm2kg-2)

M   =   Mass of the central body   (kg)


Assumptions



  • The objects are treated as point masses.
  • The mass distribution of the objects are spherically symmertric.
  • The bodies are in stable circular or eliptical orbits.
  • The system is simplied to the interaction between two bodies.


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