If a satlellite is in a low-earth orbit. is it possible it can fall to the ground?

Answer 1

Not directly, as its speed is tangential to the surface. However, as the orbit decays, a satellite dives deeper in the atmosphere, increasing drag, and slowing down the satellite that arcs down, a bit like the space shuttle on reentry. Except of course that most satellite do not have a heat shield, and essentially break down on reentry.

Answer 2

If the satellite's "forward" velocity slows down enough, there will be ground underneath when it falls. As it is, things like the shuttle and ISS simply fall in an arc with enough "forward' velocity to fall around the earth instead of straight down to it. This is why all astronauts will tell you the have never experienced true zero g, but they are simply in a constant state of freefall which causes microgravity.

To visualize falling in an arc, imagine the following...
You are at the top of a large hill. The slope is, say 50%. You lightly toss a rock away from you and it lands 20 feet away "down" the hill. You then throw another rock a bit harder, it hits even further down the hill after its arcing fall. Now, you really throw [like Nolan Ryan fastball throw] a rock and it falls beyond the bottom of the hill onto level ground.
This is all satellites do, they fall in an arc with enough of an arc to fall around the planet. Again, if they lose velocity due to gravitational effects, atmospheric slowing, or whatever, they can and will fall into instead of around the planet.

Answer 3

Yes. A small amount of aerodynamic drag slows down orbiting objects close to the atmosphere. Eventually, their orbit would decay, and they would burn up in the atmosphere or impact the ground. In fact, the International Space Station requires periodic reboosts to keep its orbit from decaying.

Answer 4

in accordance to Newton's first regulation, a physique will stay at relax, or on the comparable velocity and direction, except acted upon by potential of yet another tension. There are 2 forces that act upon any merchandise it fairly is positioned into action on the earth: gravity and air resistance. once you throw a ball, it would shop on going consistently, however the Earth's gravity pulls it down. in case you threw it swifter, it would bypass farther. If it went speedy adequate, it would bypass into orbit. whilst an merchandise is in orbit, it would shop dealing with area, yet gravity holds it in a circle. if truth be told, that's speedy adequate to not cave in, yet now speedy adequate to flee the gravitational field. to realize the speeds required, rocket engines are used. whilst air resistance is taken into effect, the ball you throw is going on a shorter direction than it would if there became no environment. Friction with air is yet another tension that slows gadgets down. Satellites in low orbits are technically in a factor of the ambience called the thermosphere. There are in basic terms some air molecules there, yet they are cutting-edge. at last, the friction slowly lowers the orbit via the years, and the engines could be fired to maintain adequate velocity to stay in orbit.

Answer 5

Yes. An orbit is just a free-fall with enough forward speed to remain aloft.

Answer 6

The orbit will eventually decay, but it's more likely that the satellite will burn up on entering the atmosphere.

Answer 7

Yes
All orbits will eventually decay and come crashing in.

Answer 8

supplemental information to the previous answers:

most notable 'satellite' which returned to earth too fast was the 'Skylab' space station.

Debris of 'Skylab' was spread over large area in Australia.

Answer 9

Yes.

Answer 10

most of it will burn up on re-entry like the space shuttle over texas