Orbits

• Orbit


  The curved path of one celestial object or spacecraft around another celestial object
• Objects orbit rather than flying off in a straight line or being pulled in towards the object they're spinning around
• An object traveling at a certain velocity


  Will continue to travel at that velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force
• The earth's gravitational pull on the moon


  Changes the moon's direction, not its speed
• Velocity


  Measures both speed and direction
• Change in velocity


  Means acceleration
• The moon is constantly accelerating as it orbits the earth, even though its speed is constant
• Smaller orbit size


  Requires faster instantaneous velocity to maintain a stable orbit
• The relationship between orbit size and speed is to avoid the object being pulled in towards what it's orbiting