- #1
TEjedi
- 16
- 0
Ive been thinking about orbits. We have plenty of points of reference(stars) that help us determine our orientation within the milky way ect. So we can effectively determine orbital paths, rotation, ect. So I've been thinking about the Earth and the moons orbital interaction independently of any other point of reference, including the sun. When I do this, it no longer becomes possible to say whether the Earth is rotating, the moon is orbitting(in a path at a velocity) or a combination of both. Following this thought, I wondered about where the momentum is. You could assume that the moon is stationary and that the Earth is rotating, right? This gives the Earth rotational energy but takes the moons momentum or you can say the moon is completing an orbital path every 24+- with a great deal of momentum and we are only slightly rotating. So does this mean that momentum is only a point of view relative to mass? Using the laws of conservation of energy/momentum the Earth moon system has the same energy when compared to a 3rd mass at some other fixed point from just an energy/momentum standpoint indepedently of what the Earth and moon are doing internally as a system, as I stated earlier. Now when I put this all into motion in my head it breaks down and I don't see why. If the energy can be moved/transformed( between Earth and moon) by changing your point of view, then what keeps the moon from crashing into the Earth due to gravity or from being flung off into space by reaching escape velocity? I may be having trouble conveying exactly what I am thinking, so I will state it as plainly as possible now. When examining the Earth and moon in a directional-less empty universe, what keeps the Earth and moon at the same distance if I choose to change the energy distribution between the two by changing my point of view? I can change my point of view right? Help please.