ASTR 103 - Astronomy

Glossary - K

Kepler's laws of planetary motion

Three empirical laws characterizing planetary motion that Kepler discovered. (see also law of elliptic orbits, law of areas, and law of periods).

kinetic energy

Energy of motion possessed by a moving body. It is equal to one-half the product of its mass and the square of its velocity.

kinetic pressure

(see also pressure).

kinetic temperature

(see also temperature).

K star

Stars of spectral type K are cool, orange to red stars with surface temperatures of about 3600 to 5000 K in whose spectra the H and K lines of Ca II reach their greatest strength.