Gravity Provides the Force That Creates Orbits Flashcards
What do the planets move around the Sun in?
Almost circular orbits
What is happening if an object is travelling in a circle?
It is constantly changing direction, which means there must be a force acting on it
What is the force causing this?
Centripetal Force - acts towards the centre of the circle
What would this Force cause the object to do?
Fall towards whatever it was orbiting, but as the object is already moving, it just causes it to change its direction
What does the object keep accelerating towards?
What it’s orbiting but the instantaneous velocity keeps it travelling in a circle
What is the force that makes this happen provided by?
The gravitational force
What does the gravitational attraction of the Sun do?
Keeps the planets and comets in their orbits around it
What are satellites kept in their orbits around planets by?
The gravitational attraction of the planet
Look at diagram page 74
Ok
