Which travels at a greater velocity the earth or the moon?

Answer 1

Relative to the sun, the moon sometimes moves faster and sometimes slower and sometimes the same speed depending on where it is in orbit around the earth.

When it is moving from new moon to full it is moving opposite the direction the earth moves around the sun and so it is moving slower than the earth around the sun. At first quarter moon it is moving the slowest relative to the sun.

When it is moving from full moon to new moon it is moving with the direction the earth moves around the sun and so it is moving faster than the earth around the sun. At last quarter moon it is moving the fastest relative to the sun.

Full moon and new moon move at the same speed as the earth relative to the sun.

So in essence the moon is speeding up and then slowing down if observed relative to the sun. Of course relative to the earth the moon moves right along with us and only varies in it's orbital speed around the earth based on Kepler's 3rd law.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Hi. The Moon. Sometimes. Both the Earth and the Moon rotate around a common center of gravity so sometimes the Moon is traveling faster than the Earth. The Earth never achieves this velocity. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The earth goes around the sun once per year, so you can figure out its average velocity from that and the average distance from the sun, about 150 million kilometers (assume a circular orbit).

The moon also orbits the sun with the earth, but in addition it orbits the earth itself, so the moon's path around the sun is somewhat longer for having a 'wavy' shape - thus the average velocity of the moon is greater.

When calculating orbits, though, earth and moon are considered to be one system with its gravitational center of mass near the surface of the earth. They both in fact orbit this point, which means the earth wobbles a little and the moon wobbles a lot.

Answer 4

That depends relative to what. If you want to know "realtive to the sun" then the moon moves faster because its orbit is longer, going around the earth makes it travel more. But since, at the end of the year, it has to be back to where it started, this extra distance in the same time means it had travelled faster. Not much faster, mind you, but still a bit faster.

Answer 5

You mean traveling around the sun or rotation?
For revolution they would be the same, for rotation i think the moon would be faster. But i don't know anything about space...

Answer 6

they fly at the same velocity around the sun

the moon also flies around earth

which case?

Answer 7

In relation to what?