Gravitational Force: Why is Normal to Path of Satellites, Planets?

[atlantic]

Why is the gravitational force normal to the path of a satellite, planet etc. ?

 

[tiny-tim]

hi atlantic

Why is the gravitational force normal to the path of a satellite, planet etc. ?

it isn't (unless the orbit is circular), it's towards whatever it's orbiting around

 

[Ken G]

Maybe your question is, why does a force perpendicular to the motion produce a circular orbit? If so, the answer is that an object moving at constant speed in a circle has an acceleration always pointing toward the center of the circle. To see that, analyze the two components of the circular motion (x and y motion) separately, and analyxe the accelerations of the x and y motion separately, and then add the results you got for the acceleration together-- you should see that it always points toward the center.