B Gravitational Orbit: How Size Determines Distance & Speed

AI Thread Summary
The gravitational orbit of an object around a planet, such as Saturn, is determined by its mass rather than its size. Increasing the size of the orbiting object does not decrease its distance from the planet. The speed of the object in its orbit is influenced by the mass of the planet it is orbiting, not the size of the object itself. This relationship is explained by the third law of Kepler and Newton's law of gravity. Understanding these principles clarifies how mass affects orbital dynamics.
Sveral
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Hello,
was just wondering, what determines the gravitational orbit of an object orbitting a planet, for example, Saturn.
Would increasing the size of the object decrease the distance between the object and the planet? Also, what determines the speed at which anything moves throughout it`s orbit-the size of the object or the size of the thing it`s orbitting?
Thanks in advance
 
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See the third Kepler law, and in particular the modern version with Newton's law of gravity (replace sun by Saturn and planet by moon).

The size is completely irrelevant, the mass leads to a relation between distance and orbital speed.
 
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mfb said:
See the third Kepler law, and in particular the modern version with Newton's law of gravity (replace sun by Saturn and planet by moon).

The size is completely irrelevant, the mass leads to a relation between distance and orbital speed.
Much appreciated, thank you!
 
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