How closely do you expect Comet Halley to obey Kepler's laws (particularly P² = a³ with P in years and a in AU)? A) Never,because it moves independently and is not related to the motions of the planets B) Very closely only when it is close to the Sun (within Earth's orbital distance) C) Closely only at very large distances D) Fairly closely,because it is gravitationally bound to the Sun

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Comet Halley is gravitationally bound to the Sun and therefore its motion is influenced by the same physical laws that govern the motion of planets, including Kepler's laws. While its motion may not be as consistent or predictable as the planets due to its highly elongated orbit and gravitational perturbations from other planets, it still follows Kepler's laws to a reasonable degree.

How Closely Do You Expect Comet Halley to Obey Kepler's