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In quantum mechanics, an atomic orbital (/ ˈ ɔːr b ɪ t ə l / ⓘ) is a function describing the location and wave-like behavior of an electron in an atom. [1] This function describes an electron's charge distribution around the atom's nucleus, and can be used to calculate the probability of finding an electron in a specific region around ...
The orbital period (also revolution period) is the amount of time a given astronomical object takes to complete one orbit around another object. In astronomy , it usually applies to planets or asteroids orbiting the Sun , moons orbiting planets, exoplanets orbiting other stars , or binary stars .
Orbital elements are the parameters required to uniquely identify a specific orbit. In celestial mechanics these elements are considered in two-body systems using a Kepler orbit . There are many different ways to mathematically describe the same orbit, but certain schemes are commonly used in astronomy and orbital mechanics .
Kepler's 3rd law of planetary motion states, the square of the periodic time is proportional to the cube of the mean distance, [4] or a 3 ∝ P 2 , {\displaystyle {a^{3}}\propto {P^{2}},} where a is the semi-major axis or mean distance, and P is the orbital period as above.
r is the distance between the two masses; μ is the reduced mass of the two bodies (approximately equal to the mass of the orbiting body if one mass is much larger than the other); and; U(r) is the general form of the potential.
The International Space Station has an orbital period of 91.74 minutes (5504 s), hence by Kepler's Third Law the semi-major axis of its orbit is 6,738 km. [citation needed] The specific orbital energy associated with this orbit is −29.6 MJ/kg: the potential energy is −59.2 MJ/kg, and the kinetic energy 29.6 MJ/kg.
The orbital wave functions are positive in the red regions and negative in the blue. The right column shows virtual MO's which are empty in the ground state, but may be occupied in excited states. In chemistry, a molecular orbital (/ ɒr b ə d l /) is a mathematical function describing the location and wave-like behavior of an electron in a ...
If the mean anomaly is known at any given instant, it can be calculated at any later (or prior) instant by simply adding (or subtracting) n⋅δt where δt represents the small time difference. Mean anomaly does not measure an angle between any physical objects (except at pericenter or apocenter, or for a circular orbit).