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Chapter 5: Problem 7

Gravity pulls a satellite toward Earth's center. So why doesn't the satellite actually fall to Earth?

Short Answer

Expert verified
In short, satellites do fall towards the Earth due to gravity but they also have significant tangential velocity that helps them to keep missing the Earth. Therefore, due to the balance of these two forces, satellites remain in orbit rather than falling to the Earth.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Satellite's Movement

The satellite moves in an orbit around the Earth due to its tangential velocity. This velocity enables it to fall forward as it falls toward the Earth.
02

Relation to Gravity

Every object that orbits the earth, including satellites, is technically in free fall, which means they are falling towards the earth due to gravity. However, they also have enough tangential velocity to keep missing the earth.
03

The Balance Between Gravitational Pull and Tangential Velocity

In the absence of other forces, like the air drag in the earth's atmosphere, the gravitational pull of the earth on the satellites and the tangential velocity at which the satellites are moving balance out. Hence, instead of falling into the earth, the satellites keep falling around it, which keeps them in orbit.

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