When an object orbit's the earth..?

Question

can it only travel roughly following the equator or can it go north-south to?

Answer 1

He MEANS natural satalites, duh.

Yes, it is possiable. think of all the planets(and dwarfs) as satalites of the sun. Only afew actualy orbit on a plane parralell to the sun's equator. Pluto(dwarf planet) orbits on an extramly tilted plane in comparison to the sun.

Also, commets orbit on tilted planes.

In simple terms, yes.

Answer 2

An object orbiting the Earth doesn't really care about the map it's following; it's simply making a circle around a large mass. If the mass is spinning or not, it doesn't care, nor does it matter which *direction* the object is going - it's simply folowing what it perceives to be a straight line.

In our world, we have satellites that orbit directly above the equator, and those that are on polar orbits. Most, like the shuttle & the space station, trace sine waves along our map, going from above the equator, to below it.

Answer 3

It can go along any trajectory, dependent on the direction at which it left the atmosphere. Although it wouldn't orbit exactly the same if travelling north-south because the Earth is slightly oblate at the equator.

Answer 4

Any trajectory is possible.

Satellites are usually placed at the equator to make them stay in the same spot over the earth (geostationary orbit).

Spy satellites and surveyors usually orbit the earth from pole to pole in order to map the entire earth surface.

Answer 5

it can orbit any trajectory
its just a question of how much more energy you want to invest in bringing it up there.
launching and orbitting the equator is just the most effective way since earth rotation adds to the rockets speed, and gives you the opportunity to place something in a geostationary orbit.
not using this 'extra-kick' reduces payload mass dramatically, for the need of more fuel.

Answer 6

An object can orbit at any angle.

There are satellites that are currently in polar orbit. There are currently lots of satellites in zero-inclination orbits (comm satelllites abofe the equator in geosynchronous orbit). There are currently satellites at almost every angle in between.
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Answer 7

It will obit on a path defined by it's entry into the orbit. If you shoot it into space on a north/south trajectory, it will orbit in a north/south direction.

Answer 8

it can orbit the earth in any direction

Answer 9

It can orbit any direction and any angle.

Answer 10

GT hit the nail on the head. I can't say it better.