Please explain. Thanks
2006-12-02 05:18:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Satellite is attracted towards centre of earth due to gravitational force of earth.This force is acting along the lines joining the centers of earth and the satellite.
By Newtons laws,therefore its acceleration must be directed towards centre of earth.
However in this case the magnitude of velocity remains constant but direction changes in every instant.The change in direction of the instantaneous velocity vector is towards centre of the orbit.There fore the acceleration is in this direction.Hence Satellite is always accelerating or falling towards centre of earth.
2006-12-02 05:34:48 · answer #1 · answered by madduris2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easiest way to determine this is to ask yourself... "If it's not in free fall, how is it moving?" Satellites almost never use whatever rockets or engines might exist on them. They rely almost totally on gravity and the motion they were given when they were boosted up into orbit in the first place.
When the satellite is first boosted up, it's given a lot of lateral motion relative to the surface below it. Without gravity, this motion would cause the satellite to shoot away from the earth. However, the earth's gravity continuously pulls it back towards us, giving the satellite circular motion around us.
Consider a yo-yo, extended to the end of it's string. Now, if you swing that yo-yo around, think of the string as gravity, holding the yo-yo close to your hand.... if you let go of the string (essentially removing gravity), then the yo-yo flies off into "space".
(please don't try that inside).
2006-12-02 13:24:54 · answer #2 · answered by TankAnswer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satellites are continuously falling, yet, the travel in a horizontal dirction so that the Earth curves away from them at the same rate they fall. Therefore, there is no net change in altitude.
2006-12-02 13:22:07 · answer #3 · answered by robx0r 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Satellites are put at a certain distance away from the earth, in what's known as GSO or geosynchronous orbit. Here's a better explanation:
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/rocket_sci/satellites/geo-high.html
I hope that helps!
2006-12-02 13:38:30 · answer #4 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because it is always being acted on by the gravity of the object it is orbitting, so it is always falling. It is falling just enough to keep it
falling close enough to curve around the center of mass of both objects.
2006-12-02 13:32:52 · answer #5 · answered by themountainviewguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the only force acting on them is gravity
they are falling toward the earth all the time its just that the earth is effectively falling away from them at the same speed
2006-12-02 16:56:25 · answer #6 · answered by supremecritic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity! Without going in WAY to deep it's like this. .....
To slow, it'll fall to Earth, to fast and it'll escape Earths gravity. It's figured on mass of object and speed.
2006-12-02 13:22:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋