New York Standard for The Ellipse

This resource supports standard 4 of the New York math, science and technology standards. Standard 4 states: students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science. The major understandings being supported are 1.1a and 1.1b. Major understanding 1.1a states: Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion. These motions explain such phenomena as the day, the year, seasons, phases of the moon, eclipses, and tides. Gravity influences the motions of celestial objects. The force of gravity between two objects in the universe depends on their masses and the distance between them. Major understanding 1.1b states: Nine planets move around the Sun in nearly circular orbits. The orbit of each planet is an ellipse with the Sun located at one of the foci. Earth is orbited by one moon and many artificial satellites.