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Glite Dictionary
harmonic law

harmonic law

9.9
A rule that relates a planet's orbit time to its distance from the sun
  • noun
  • /hɑːrˈmɒnɪk lɔː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ley armónica
  • Kepler's harmonic law states that the ratio of the square of a planet's orbital period to the cube of its orbital axis is constant for all planets.

Examples

  • The harmonic law shows a precise relationship between a planet’s orbital period and its distance from the sun.

  • Kepler's harmonic law helps astronomers predict planetary movements with remarkable accuracy.

  • Students studied the harmonic law to better understand the structure of our solar system.

  • According to the harmonic law, the planets move in predictable orbits.

  • The harmonic law helps astronomers calculate planetary distances.

  • The harmonic law provides a mathematical framework to understand the relationship between a planet's distance from the sun and its orbital period.

  • Astronomers use harmonic law to predict the motions of planets in our solar system with high precision.

Synonyms

Kepler's third law
vsharmonic law
  • Specialized
9.0

A planet's orbit time squared increases with its average distance from the Sun cubed

is the same law but expressed as a constant ratio across all planets

Surface Forms

harmonic law singular
harmonic laws plural

Morphology

harmonic + law

The compound transparently signals a scientific 'law' concerning something 'harmonic' (i.e., harmonics, ratios or periodic relations), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it refers to a law about harmonic relations. However, the precise astronomical content (the specific ratio of orbital period squared to axis cubed, i.e., Kepler's third law) is technical and not predictable from the words alone, so the meaning is only partially recoverable without domain knowledge.

Etymology

The noun harmonic law uses a musical picture: one popular story says the word harmonic suggests music and law means a rule because Kepler found a simple, regular link between a planet's 'rhythm', how long it takes to go around the sun, and its 'distance' from the sun. So, harmonic law means a neat rule that connects orbit time and distance and helps 'predict' planetary movements.