Orbit Demonstration
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Have a look at the picture here. Imagine that you are holding the satellite up
above the Earth. What do you think will happen if you "let go"?
That is right, gravity makes the satellite fall straight down to the surface. |
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This time, you give the satellite a push.
Although the satellite still crashes into the Earth, it has moved around the surface a bit, rather than falling straight down. If you pushed it harder when you let go, it would get even further around before it crashed. |
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If you give the satellite a really big push, this is what happens.
Although the satellite is still falling because of gravity, the big push that you gave it means that it cannot get any closer to the surface. In fact, it will keep going on for ever! In other words, it is in orbit. |
