Satellite Help: Will it Stay on Earth's Orbit Forever?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jsbhk
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Satellite Urgent
AI Thread Summary
A satellite in Earth's orbit will not stay indefinitely without any external forces acting on it, as gravitational pull is a continuous force. The discussion highlights that while Earth's gravity provides a constant force, the satellite does not require additional thrust to maintain its orbit. The concept of centripetal force is explained, emphasizing that the gravitational force is what keeps the satellite in orbit. The stability of orbits, as demonstrated by the Earth-Moon system, supports the idea that satellites can remain in orbit for extended periods without constant thrust. Ultimately, the satellite will continue to revolve around Earth unless acted upon by other forces.
jsbhk
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Forgive my rusty English. But I really need urgent and Professional help, teachers and professors, please:

A satellite has been put on Earth's orbit at a high speed, (forget atmosphere friction, forget moon attraction, forget sun gravity), theoretically, without any further thrust, will it stay on Earth's orbit forever?

Many people in my country told me it will, but I doubt it, because Earth's gravity pull is continuous (in acceleration = a), and the satellite needs force to balance out the gravitational pull (F=m a) as centripedal/centrifugal force, then the gravity's <a> has been canceled in the equation F=m<a>, since mass is constant, then that means WE NEED <CONSTANT> FORCE to balance out the gravity pull, that means the satellite needs CONSTANT Force to stay on orbit. Am I correct? Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The moon is in orbit around the Earth, no?
 
Moon is under the Sun's gravitational pull, some scientists consider it not the satellite of Earth because its barycenter is not in the center of Earth. Some even called Earth-Moon a twin star. We don't want to go into it. Just wanted to know will artificial satellite centrifugal force need constant force to stay on orbit?
 
in other words, if an artificial satellite is circling the Earth, without any air friction, will it revolve forever without any thrust? Thanks!
 
jsbhk said:
Moon is under the Sun's gravitational pull, some scientists consider it not the satellite of Earth because its barycenter is not in the center of Earth. Some even called Earth-Moon a twin star. We don't want to go into it. Just wanted to know will artificial satellite centrifugal force need constant force to stay on orbit?
None of that is correct, but even if it were, how would that change the scenario? The Earth and moon are orbiting the sun and have been for billions of years...

What does that tell you about the stability of an orbit?

Anyway, your logic in the OP is odd. The Earth's gravity provides a constant F and the result is a constant acceleration of a mass. f=ma. Where's the inequality?
 
Last edited:
I think it's easist first to watch a short vidio clip I find these videos very relaxing to watch .. I got to thinking is this being done in the most efficient way? The sand has to be suspended in the water to move it to the outlet ... The faster the water , the more turbulance and the sand stays suspended, so it seems to me the rule of thumb is the hose be aimed towards the outlet at all times .. Many times the workers hit the sand directly which will greatly reduce the water...
Back
Top