Questions tagged [orbital-motion]
The path a body takes while moving through space under the influence of the gravitational forces of other bodies
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Can perfectly stable orbits exist in GR?
Defining "stable orbit" between two bodies as one where, in the absence of other bodies or non-gravitational forces, the distance stays between some value pair $r_{min}>0$ and $r_{max}$. ...
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How accurate does the ISS's velocity and altitude need to be to maintain orbit?
We know the the ISS is not drifting weightless in space, but rather is constantly falling as it circles the Earth. To do this it must be at a specific altitude and moving with a specific velocity. ...
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What would happen to the moon's orbit if we reduce (instantaneously) its mass? [closed]
In my opinion the moon's orbit shouldn't change, because an orbiting body is a free falling object and the trajectory of a free falling object is not affected by its mass (because the inertial mass ...
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Doubt on conservation of angular momentum for Kepler's laws
Just before proving Kepler's laws, my Professor claimed that if $\vec{F}$ is a central force with center $O$ and it is the only force acting on a point $P$, then the trajectory of $P$ is a curve plane....
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Has our knowledge of astrophysics and gravity reached the point where we can accurately calculate Lagrange points?
is it possible for us today given the knowledge we possess of gravity and our success with inserting satellites in to steady/ geosynchronous orbit and any knowledge we have on the relative size (and ...
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Why does a moon's orbit get more circular with time?
I understand that there is a transfer of energy between a moon and a planet depending on whether the moon is orbiting faster or slower than the spin rate of the planet. This would obviously change the ...
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Are we certain of the mass we calculate for supermassive black holes?
If astronomers have concluded that the rotation speed of objects held firmly within a galaxy but far from a galactic center is too great to be explained by the visible matter of the galaxy alone, what ...
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Trajectories of projectile based on different speeds of projection [duplicate]
So my teacher was teaching gravitation and an interesting fact that he mentioned was the trajectory of a projectile projected from Earth at a speed equal to escape velocity, is parabolic.
Also, he ...
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Would the Moon move away if the Earth were frozen with no liquid tide?
The moon is moving further from the Earth. To the extent that after 600 million years we will no longer enjoy full solar eclipses as it will be too far away to completely block the sun.
The reason the ...
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Pseudo Orbital motion only due to Coriolis force
Planet, say of mass M and radius R is rotating with some angular velocity ω and a object of mass m (initially on the surface and rotating with the planet) was launched with velocity v vertically ...
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Better equations for modeling and simulating a halo orbit?
I'm trying to model a halo orbit at low altitude (10m from surface). The satellite is using propulsion to trace the circular halo path. It looks like this "from the top" (the blue ball is ...
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Restricted 3-body: one large mass and two smaller ones
A restricted 3-body problem is usually understood as two large bodies and one much smaller one that doesn't affect the motion of the other two.
I am curious about a 3-body problem with one large body, ...
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What changes the velocity perpendicular to radius in an elliptical orbit?
I'm working currently on a problem that asks to justify that angular momentum and kinetic energy conserves for a planet in an elliptical orbit. Although I've been taught that angular momentum should ...
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Find eccentricity of orbit given the velocity and the semi-major axis
Is it possible to calculate eccentricity of orbit knowing only the semi-major axis and the velocity of both celestial bodies? If not, what other additional information is required.
Does the fact that ...
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The magnetic force between the earth and the sun
There is a magnetic field around the earth and a stronger one around the sun. I guess there should be a magnetic force between the sun and earth. Now, shouldn't we take the magnetic force into account ...
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