Golfing on the Moon: Can a Ball Achieve Orbit?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jean-Louis
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ball Moon Orbit
AI Thread Summary
Hitting a golf ball on the moon to achieve a stable orbit is theoretically possible but requires calculating the necessary exit velocity to overcome lunar gravity. The trajectory of the ball would likely return to the original spot, especially if teed off from a high elevation. Despite the moon's lower gravity, the gravitational force is still significant enough that the ball would not maintain a true orbit. The comparison to launching a ball from Beijing to Tokyo illustrates the challenge of achieving the required distance. Ultimately, while the concept is intriguing, practical execution remains highly improbable.
Jean-Louis
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
Imagine that you are on the surface of the moon, playing golf.

So, is it possible to hit a golf ball on the surface of the moon and have it achieve a stable orbit around the moon?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You would need to work out the exit velocity required by an object to leave the gravitation force. Then if this is humanly possible.

If so you could
 
The closest you could get to orbit would have a trajectory that would bring it back to where you started. So if you tee'd it up on a mountain, maybe, but otherwise it'd just hit you in the back of the head when it came around again.
 
remember, even though the moon has light gravity, its not as small as you think it is

even with light gravity, it would be like launching the ball from bejing to tokyo
 

Thread '1:1 versus 2:1 Mechanical Advantage debate'

The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
View full post »

Thread 'Newton's first law?'

Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
View full post »
Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'

Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'

Hello! I have a question regarding a beam on an inclined plane. I was considering a beam resting on two supports attached to an inclined plane. I was almost sure that the lower support must be more loaded. My imagination about this problem is shown in the picture below. Here is how I wrote the condition of equilibrium forces: $$ \begin{cases} F_{g\parallel}=F_{t1}+F_{t2}, \\ F_{g\perp}=F_{r1}+F_{r2} \end{cases}. $$ On the other hand...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Rolling balls with different rotational inertia
Replies
14
Views
2K
A Puzzle Involving the Moon's Orbital Motion
Replies
19
Views
2K
Golf ball and Tennis ball turbulence
Replies
7
Views
4K
Orbital mechanics: is ballistic capture possible without acceleration?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Moment of impact in sports, what's really going on?
Replies
4
Views
1K
Testing Newtonian Gravity: Collision of Two Masses
Replies
17
Views
2K
How do I calculate the speed of the Earth around the Barycentre with the Moon?
Replies
17
Views
9K
Throwing a ball out of the end of a moving train
Replies
3
Views
3K
Would a Very Large Mass (e.g. the Moon) Fall with g?
Replies
11
Views
2K
B The Sun's Influence on the Moon's Orbit: Is it Negligible?
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top