How does this suggest unstable orbits for small masses?josh0196 said:...since gravitational atttraction is ...
A.T. said:How does this suggest unstable orbits for small masses?
Thank you :)Drakkith said:The acceleration of an object from gravity is independent of mass, so no, there are no objects so light that they couldn't achieve a stable orbit. However it is possible that your professor was speaking of some other effect. I'd ask them about it.
Yes, an object can have too little mass to have a stable orbit. This is because the gravitational force between two objects is proportional to their masses. If one of the objects has a significantly smaller mass, the gravitational force will not be strong enough to keep it in a stable orbit.
The minimum mass required for an object to have a stable orbit depends on several factors, such as the mass and distance of the object it is orbiting, as well as the speed of the orbit. In general, the object needs to have enough mass to generate sufficient gravitational force to counteract the centrifugal force of its orbit.
Yes, an object with very little mass can still have an elliptical orbit. This is because the shape of an orbit is determined by the balance between the gravitational force and the centrifugal force. As long as the gravitational force is stronger, the object will maintain an elliptical orbit.
Yes, it is possible for an object to have too much mass for a stable orbit. This is known as a supermassive object, and it is typically found at the center of galaxies. The immense gravitational force of these objects can disrupt the orbits of nearby celestial bodies, making them unstable.
Yes, the mass of an object can affect the shape of its orbit. As mentioned before, the shape of an orbit is determined by the balance between gravitational force and centrifugal force. A higher mass can result in a more circular orbit, while a lower mass can result in a more elliptical orbit.