Thanks Tim!
I understand that KE would equal the PE from the objects initially moving apart, but is there a way to determine velocity two objects would have at any given point along their paths toward each other? Assume the two objects are of equal mass, and have an initial velocity of zero.
I was wondering if someone could answer a question for me. If you had two objects in space X distance from each other, is there a formula to determine what their velocity would be at the point where gravity finally pulls them together? Let's assume that the objects smack into each other instead...
In order for something to orbit, it has to be moving in a path perpendicular to the force of gravity (I.E. sideways). So imagine a satellite way up in the sky. It is moving sideways relative to the ground. The Earth is pulling the satellite downwards, though and that satellite is falling. It...
Thanks for the feedback guys! I guess I just have trouble trying to visualize a pulling force- it would seem to me that whatever force is doing the pulling would have to wrap around or hook into whatever object it is actually pulling (or be very sticky:).
Also, I wasn't thinking the the force...
I will start by saying I am not a physicist and what I am posting here is pure thought experiment on my part.
I was wondering about the nature of gravity, and trying to determine how the force could act to pull two objects together. What physical interaction causes two objects to accelerate...