Effect of Tangential and Normal Forces on Orbital Velocity of Planets

In summary, the tangential component of force may either speed up or slow down the velocity of the planet, depending on its location on the elliptical orbit. On the other hand, the normal component of force has no effect on the velocity as it is perpendicular to the direction of motion. The direction of the force that holds a planet in its orbit is towards the center of the orbit.
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Homework Statement



What effect will the tangential component of force have on the velocity of the planet?
What effect will the normal component of force have on the velocity of the planet?

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


1. Since it is parallel to the direction of velocity, maybe it speeds it up/slows it down depending on the location of the planet on the ellipse?

2. No effect since it is perpendicular to the direction of motion.

I'm not really sure if I am right.
 
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  • #2
What is the direction of the force that holds a planet in it's orbit?

Note: velocity is a vector.
 

1. What is the orbital speed of planets?

The orbital speed of planets refers to the speed at which they move around their respective stars or orbits. It is measured in kilometers per second (km/s) or miles per second (mi/s).

2. How is the orbital speed of planets calculated?

The orbital speed of planets can be calculated using the formula v = √(GM/r), where v is the orbital speed, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the central star, and r is the distance between the planet and the star.

3. Does the orbital speed of planets change?

Yes, the orbital speed of planets can change due to various factors such as gravitational pull from other celestial bodies, changes in the mass of the central star, and changes in the distance between the planet and the star.

4. What is the average orbital speed of planets in our solar system?

The average orbital speed of planets in our solar system ranges from about 47,000 km/h for Mercury to about 9,700 km/h for Neptune. The average orbital speed of Earth is about 107,000 km/h.

5. How does the orbital speed of planets affect their orbit?

The orbital speed of planets is directly related to their orbit. The faster the orbital speed, the larger the orbit, and vice versa. This is known as Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion.

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