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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the theoretical behavior of a satellite in Earth's orbit, specifically whether it would remain in orbit indefinitely without additional thrust, while ignoring factors such as atmospheric friction and gravitational influences from other celestial bodies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether a satellite in orbit requires a constant force to counteract Earth's gravitational pull, suggesting that without such force, it would not remain in orbit indefinitely.
  • Another participant points out that the moon is in orbit around the Earth, raising the question of whether the same principles apply to artificial satellites.
  • There is a mention of the moon's relationship with the sun's gravitational pull and the debate over its classification as a satellite of Earth, which some argue complicates the discussion of orbits.
  • A later reply challenges the initial logic presented, stating that Earth's gravity provides a constant force leading to a constant acceleration, implying that the original reasoning may be flawed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of a constant force for a satellite to maintain its orbit, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the assumptions regarding gravitational forces, the nature of orbits, or the definitions of satellite classifications, leaving these points open for further exploration.

jsbhk
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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.
 
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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?
 
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