what force prevents a satellite from falling?

M

MARKB

Member
None of these.

Gravity is what keeps the satellite IN ORBIT but it doesn't prevent it from falling (in fact, it's what makes it fall).

There's no air drag because there's no air in space (duh.)

And inertia isn't a force.
 
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IloveJBttt

Member
No force prevents a satellite from falling because the only reason a satellite stays in orbit is because it is falling.

I think this might explain it, but I haven't watched so I don't know for sure.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-do-satellites-stay-in-orbit
 
S

SamG1

Member
It may sound strange, but gravity stops the object from falling to earth, because by the time the force of gravity has pulled the object in a certain direction, the Earth has moved away from that point, pulling it in an endless loop around and around.

Put simply, the object is falling toward Earth, which is always changing location, and the satellite keeps changing its direction to find Earth. Sadly, by the time the satellite gets there, Earth is gone, and is pulling somewhere else.

(BTW, centripetal force isn't actually real, it doesn't exist. So be wary of those who say its the centripetal force. It only exists because we imagine it to exist.)
 
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IloveJBttt

Member
No force prevents a satellite from falling because the only reason a satellite stays in orbit is because it is falling.

I think this might explain it, but I haven't watched so I don't know for sure.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-do-satellites-stay-in-orbit
 
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