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Physics · Glossary

What is Satellite and orbit?

Also known as: satellite · orbit

Definition 4.17 High School Physics · Chapter 4 — Universal Gravitation and Weight

A satellite of a star is a body that falls around the star without ever reaching its surface; the path it repeats is its orbit.

Newton’s cannon: fired faster and faster from a mountaintop, the ball lands farther and farther — until, at about 7.9\, km/ s, the ground curves away as fast as the ball falls, and it orbits.
Newton’s cannon: fired faster and faster from a mountaintop, the ball lands farther and farther — until, at about 7.9 km/s7.9\,\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s}, the ground curves away as fast as the ball falls, and it orbits.
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