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Chapter 8: Problem 5

A friend who knows nothing about physics asks what keeps an orbiting satellite from falling to Earth. Give an answer that will satisfy your friend.

Short Answer

Expert verified
A satellite doesn't fall into Earth because it's in a state of continuous free fall around the Earth. The Earth's gravity pulls it towards the center, but the satellite's forward motion balances this pull, allowing it to fall around the Earth rather than straight into it. This is similar to Isaac Newton's thought experiment, Newton's Canon.

Step by step solution

01

Explain Gravity

Gravity is a force that attracts two bodies towards each other, in this case Earth and the satellite. The force pulls objects towards the center of Earth.
02

Define Orbit

An orbit is a curved path that an object takes in space as it revolves around another object due to gravity. For a satellite, this object is Earth.
03

Connect Gravity and Orbiting

An orbiting satellite is continuously falling towards Earth due to Earth's gravitational pull. However, it doesn't crash into Earth because it's also moving forward. This forward motion coupled with the pull of gravity creates a balance causing the satellite to fall around the Earth rather than straight into it.
04

Refer to Newton's Canon

One can imagine if a canon on a tall mountain fires a projectile. If it fires with the right velocity, the projectile will fall around the Earth without hitting it, essentially orbiting around the Earth like a satellite. This thought experiment by Isaac Newton, known as Newton's Canon, provides a simple way to understand why objects in space orbit instead of falling straight down.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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